According to StatsSA, more than 26.7% of our youth are unemployed. Out of that, there is a bulk of graduates that contribute to this discouraging figure of unemployment.
My focus is not on the high level of unemployment, but the causes of this unemployment that we could change as young people.
To be a graduate and unemployed must be the most devastating thing any young, proud and bright (mostly black) young person can go through. But how much research do we put in to ensure we pursue careers that somehow guarantees us a job?
Today, as a BTech journalism graduate, my abilities and skills that could see me venture into a communications or public relations career still serves me with less opportunities, because the fields are saturated. I get calls and at times listen to frustrated journalism graduates who have been without jobs for years, with no luck to do a six-month internship.
They are not the only ones. There are many other frustrated graduates in our country because they pursued careers that are saturated and don’t need more people, perhaps even for the next 10 to 15 years.
We cannot only talk about an economy that is not growing or creating enough jobs to accommodate graduates, without us starting by exploring the already available opportunities and ignoring the role we can play to unburden this struggling economy.
The South Africa health and education departments are in need of doctors, nurses, teachers and specialists. We also need artisans. That means we do have sectors in our country that could aid the young.
Yes, we need lawyers, accountants and more, but we shouldn’t cry foul at the lack of employment if some of the frustrations we face as young people are self-inflicted.
Also, there is a very erratic relationship between corporate South Africa and tertiary institutions. They should be talking to each other to ensure they reduce the intake of students in careers that have an overflow of supply, and don’t have room to take in new employees.
Perhaps it is too late to change the minds of those who believe that following their passion will be an answer to the economic challenges they face. We don’t have the luxury of following our passions if we are to make our lives better and be part of the employed in our country.
The world is going the fourth industrialisation route. Yet, as a country, we are failing to direct or advise learners in high school to choose science, technology, engineering and maths as core subjects. This is not to undermine the arts and other careers.
We also need new entrants as actors and actresses, writers and creatives to keep the entertainment space growing.
The economy is growing at a snail’s pace. But I believe we can all play a part in changing the future prospects of those coming after us.
The many graduates who are jobless definitely don’t have degrees in teaching or nursing gathering dust at home. It is most probably a degree in human resources or journalism.
Let’s encourage learners in high schools to pursue careers that will guarantee them employment.
Kabelo Chabalala is the founder of the Young Men Movement , focusing on the socialisation of boys to create a new breed of men. Email: kabelo03chabalala@gmail.com; Instagram @kb_the_village_boy; Twitter @KabeloJay; or Facebook, Kabelo Chabalala.