African Graduate Unemployment Survey Report
Introduction
This report provides a look into the trends shaping unemployment of African graduates resident in Europe and Africa. African graduates face lots of challenges when transitioning from education to professional employment. At Graffi Lewa, we are determined to address this issue by enabling African graduates to smoothly transition into the workforce and empowering them to make impacts in society, both locally and internationally, through their professional skills.
As a result, these findings are meant to help readers understand the efforts Africans put into getting employment after graduation. It also looks at African graduates and their desire to upgrade their knowledge and skill set. The insights from this report are based on, a sample of 40 African participatns, all residents of Europe and Africa
Demographics
The survey had 40 participands, all residents of Europe and Africa, with a majority being male master’s degree holders
Hypothesis 1: We believe it is quite challenging for African graduates to transition from education to professional employment
Overwelmingly, 88% of the participants agree that obtaininf professional jobs after graduation is challenging. This is further evidenced by the extended duration of unemployment, with 68% remaining jobless for at least one to two years
Hypothesis 2: Identifying Barriers to Education-to-Employment Transition
The challenges faced by participants include companies unwilling to sponsor work visas (specific to Eurpoean residence), limited job opportunities, job discrimination, language barriers, and inadequate professional skills, knowledge, and work experience.
Hypothesis 3: Importance of Additional Professional Training
Over 85% of both African and European participands acknowledge the importance of additional professional training in improving employment prospects. Online training is also recognized as a important channel for acquiring new skills and knowledge
Hypothesis 4: African Graduates’ Proactive Efforts
Our survey revealed that African graduates are taking proactive steps to improve their employability. By actively participating in webinars and workshops, they seek to
- Acquire new skills and Knowledge
- Build valuable professional networks
- Enhance their career prospects
Hypothesis 5: Obstales of Online Training
Participants expressed willingness to learn through online training, but obstacles such as time management, indiscipline for online courses, unreliable internet connections, and financial constraints hinder their progress. European participants mostly cited time management and indiscipline as their primary concerns, while African participants faced challenges related to finances and unreliable internet connections.
Conclusion
Key Takeaways from Our Recent Survey
1. Transitioning to Professional Employment: African graduates are facing significant challenges in securing professional jobs after graduation. Our survey shows that a majority of participants find the process difficult, leading to extended periods of unemployment.
2. Emphasizing Professional Training: Enhancing employability is crucial, and our data demonstrates the importance of additional professional training. Participants acknowledge the value of webinars, workshops, and online events in boosting their skills and knowledge for better job prospects.
3. Overcoming Online Learning Obstacles: While there’s a willingness to learn via online training, obstacles like time management, indiscipline, unreliable internet, and finances hinder full utilization of these opportunities.
At Graffi Lewa, we are committed to empowering African graduates through tailored training programs and initiatives that bridge the gap between education and employment. Together, let’s make a positive impact on their journey to success!
Practical recommendations from the participants include
- Encouraging collaboration between industry professionals and graduates
- Implementing additional professional training programs to equip graduates with marketable skills and knowledge
- Providing career coaching and mentoring to help African youths focus on marketable skills, and
- Integrating internships into school programs
Graffiland
Friday 21st July 2023.