The Evolving Reality: African Graduates, Degrees, and the Job Market
The traditional path of education leading to stable employment is increasingly challenged in Africa. A recent study highlights a growing mismatch between graduate skills and available opportunities, forcing many to forge diverse and unconventional livelihoods.
The Graduate Unemployment Crisis in Africa
Reliable data on graduate unemployment is scarce, but existing research paints a concerning picture. A 2014 British Council study estimated nearly a quarter of Nigerian graduates (23.1%) were unemployed. In Kenya, graduates took an average of five years to secure their first job. In South Africa, graduate unemployment more than doubled from 5.8% in 2008 to 11.8% in 2023. For young graduates aged 20-29, nearly one in three (30.3%) were unemployed in 2023.
Diversified Livelihoods: Beyond the Traditional Career Path
Research tracking over 500 African tertiary graduates across 21 universities (nine in African countries and 12 in other countries) over five years revealed that most graduates were creating livelihoods from multiple sources. Only 16% smoothly transitioned from education into a job and remained employed throughout the survey period. This highlights the need for universities to equip graduates with the skills and resources needed for the real world.
Strategies for Generating Income: A Portfolio Approach
African graduates are resourceful in generating income through various means:
- Multiple Activities: Almost half engage in more than one activity, such as working while running a side business or pursuing further studies.
- Education as a Livelihood: Scholarships, postgraduate degrees, and research opportunities provide both income and stability. Some use underemployment as a stepping stone.
- Entrepreneurship: A minority rely solely on their own businesses, while about a fifth supplement their income this way. They view entrepreneurship as a safety net in an unpredictable labour market.
Graduates are motivated by opportunity, passion projects, and the desire to build something of their own, challenging the notion that entrepreneurship in Africa is solely driven by desperation.
Beyond "Waiting": Agency and Reinvention
Graduates' pathways involve movement, improvisation, and continuous reinvention, rather than simply being "stuck" or "unemployed." Even when underemployed, they often view their jobs as dignified or as investments in their futures, sharpening skills and building networks. This agency—the capacity to navigate uncertainty—is crucial for finding purpose in contexts with limited institutional support and job opportunities.
How Universities Can Better Prepare Graduates
Universities need to adapt to the evolving landscape of graduate employment.
- Re-evaluate Employability: Education should prepare students for diversified, non-linear livelihoods, focusing on resilience, adaptability, and entrepreneurial thinking, not just technical skills.
- Entrepreneurship Education: Courses on business planning, financial management, and networking can help graduates start or sustain ventures.
- Supportive Ecosystems: Universities should act as hubs, linking students to government programs, private sector partners, and alumni networks. Partnerships with agencies like South Africa’s National Youth Development Agency are crucial.
- Evolving Career Services: Focus on exploring multiple career paths, building social capital, and accessing income diversification opportunities. Offer practical resources like co-working spaces, short courses, and seed funding.
- Leverage Alumni Networks: Showcase successful graduates who have diversified their income to inspire others and change the prevailing narrative.
A New Perspective on Graduate Life in Africa
Recognizing the complex entanglements in the future of work in Africa is a critical task for higher education. By supporting entrepreneurship, fostering networks, and acknowledging non-linear transitions, universities can empower graduates to navigate uncertainty with confidence. Young African graduates are actively constructing their futures, displaying resilience, creativity, and determination in the face of adversity.
