{"id":821294,"date":"2025-04-17T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=821294"},"modified":"2025-04-19T00:18:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T22:18:52","slug":"big-problems-for-university-graduates-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/821294\/big-problems-for-university-graduates-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Big problems for university graduates in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
A degree is often seen as a surefire way to secure a job, but more than half of graduates struggle to find a job in their first year after school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Graduation season has arrived in South Africa, and many are excited to receive their tertiary qualifications. However, they may find it challenging to find a job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recruitment platform Pnet said the South African job market is extremely competitive, and the numbers paint a tough picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It noted that 70% of graduates struggle to find work within their first year, as the youth unemployment rate stands at an almost unbelievable 45.5% as of late 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Even with a degree in hand, breaking into the workforce can feel like an uphill battle,” said Pnet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More positively for those with a newly printed degree, graduate unemployment is improving, decreasing by 1.1 percentage points from 9.8% in Q3:2024 to 8.7% in Q4:2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The current youth unemployment rate is down from 10.6% for graduates in Q1 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, it is still three percentage points higher than the 5.5% unemployment rate in Q1 2013, pointing to a significantly tougher environment for new entrants in the job market compared to a decade ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another extremely concerning statistic is that unemployment rates for those with matric and less than matric remain incredibly high, at 33.8% and 38.2%, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Pnet noted that while university experience matters, it’s not the only thing employers look for when hiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Graduates can improve their chances of getting hired by knowing how to position themselves, leveraging their skills, and making themselves visible to recruiters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Employers are hiring, but they\u2019re after specific skills and experience\u2014something most fresh graduates haven\u2019t had a chance to build yet,” Pnet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group noted that graduates should work on soft skills like adaptability, problem-solving, and the ability to learn on the go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These skills are often as valuable as the hard skills that come with a degree, such as experience and knowledge in a specific field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It added that the trick with soft skills is to show them effectively, which can be done without a formal, paid job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Volunteering, being part of a sports team, tutoring, freelancing, and leading a campus society are all effective ways of showing off soft skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These experiences can help develop several transferable skills employers want, such as communication, teamwork, leadership, organisation, and critical thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Chances are, you already have more relevant experience than you think. The key is knowing how to connect the dots and position yourself well,” said the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Graduates should highlight these transferable skills in their CVs, online recruitment profiles, and interviews to show employers the value they bring, even if they are just starting out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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