Abstract

OHEI, Kenneth Nwanua  and  BRINK, Roelien. Investigating the prevailing issues surrounding ICT graduate employability in South Africa: A case study of a South African university. IJTL [online]. 2019, vol.14, n.2, pp.29-42. ISSN 2519-5670.

Graduate unemployment is perhaps one of the most predominant problems in South Africa, as in several other countries. The intensity of unemployment within the country's economy is revealed in the constantly rising unemployment rate year after year. This has raised many unanswered questions about universities' curricula, the quality of graduates and their ability to meet employers' expectations and criteria for employment. This paper reports on the issues surrounding ICT unemployment. The study explored the problems that graduates encounter when entering the labour market and why they are not getting their desired job in their profession. A mixed methods approach was used. Findings suggest that graduate unemployment is caused by poor economic conditions. Consequently, people at all levels and qualifications struggle to get jobs, irrespective of their qualifications. Other associated causes are lack of work experience, lack of hard and soft skills and the inability of graduates to apply knowledge acquired through university study. As a result, South African youth are still vulnerable in the labour market. Higher education institutions need to play definitive roles in producing academic graduates with the relevant skills and traits, coherent knowledge and application through using work-integrated learning as best practice for improvement.

Keywords : career development and guidance; employability skills; graduate unemployment; information and communication technology (ICT); skills shortage; soft and hard skills.

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