Exploring the entrepreneurial intentions of young black unemployed B.Com graduates in the Matlosana Local Municipality area, North West Province

Abstract

The study focuses on the entrepreneurial intentions of young black unemployed B.Com graduates in Matlosana Local Municipality, North West Province, South Africa. A qualitative research approach and exploratory-descriptive research design were used to conduct the study. The population of the study consisted of all unemployed African B.Com graduates within the Matlosana Local Municipality. Purposive sampling was used to select participants and 12 unemployed B.Com graduates interviewed at saturation. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and data analysed using the eight steps of qualitative data analysis as described by Anderson. Thematic data analysis was used and key themes that emerged were: entrepreneurship intention associated factors; support system; participants’ nature or attributes; attitudes of participants when starting a business; culture associated with entrepreneurial intention; and prioritisation of entrepreneurial programmes. The findings revealed that factors, such as personal, family, lack of emotional support and financial challenges are key factors associated with entrepreneurial intentions. Participants maintained entrepreneurial intentions focus on self-efficacy and behavioural control. The study also revealed that some B.Com graduates are willing to own a business while others are not interested in such ventures. Culture is associated with nurturing entrepreneurial intentions of African B.Com graduates. Aspects, such as attributes of role models, as viewed by the community, influence the entrepreneurial intentions of B.Com graduates. Thus, it is concluded that the intentions of B.Com graduates to become career entrepreneurs, depend on the availability of career programmes, prioritisation of entrepreneurial studies in school, motivation of community members and provision of financial support to African B.Com graduates, to actualise their entrepreneurial intentions in Matlosana Local Municipality.