An empirical study of the graduate unemployment level : a case study of Technikon North West

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyse the concept of "graduate unemployment" level in the current changing workplace. The research focused mainly on students graduated from Technikon North West at the Mafikeng Campus from 1997 to 2000. The primary aim of this research is to determine from the literature whether a lack of appropriate career choice lead to high graduate unemployment as well as to determine empirically the economic factors that might contribute to the graduate unemployment. The focus is based on the following: * What kind of qualifications are held by unemployed graduates? * What experience do the graduates have apart from their degrees or diplomas they are holding? * Do employed graduates hold relevant positions with regard to their qualifications? If not why? * Did graduates receive career guidance before opting for diploma obtained? Briefly the findings and observations were as follows: * The type of diploma obtained has a significant influence on patterns of employment. * The waiting period had a great significance to the choice of employment. * The type of diploma obtained has a significant influence on the waiting period before a graduate can be employed. * The method used to seek employment has a significant influence on the waiting period. Graduates who are less informed about the source of seeking employment wait a longer period before they can be employed, while those who are well informed about the correct source of seeking employment obtain employment faster. * The choice of diploma obtained by graduates was influenced by economic factors. The following recommendation were made by the researcher: The link with industry were felt to be appropriate. Businesses must work with educators to ensure that challenges in the economy and in employer's needs are accurately and adequately embedded in higher education. This would help in increasing the level of industry support for Technikons. Individual counseling should be offered to final year student in order to assist the transition of students and graduates into the labour market. New structures of higher education, combining education with work experience in different forms, may be developed to relate the world of higher education to the world of employment.