Graduate unemployment in South Africa: social inequality reproduced |
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| Authors: | Kim Baldry |
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| Institution: | Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | In this study, I examine the influence of demographic and educational characteristics of South African graduates on their employment/unemployment status. A sample of 1175 respondents who graduated between 2006 and 2012 completed an online survey. Using binary logistic regression, the strongest determinants of unemployment were the graduates’ race, their socio-economic status and their year of their graduation. Surprisingly, the graduates’ field of study, level of study, marks obtained and whether or not they had received career guidance at their higher education institution did not significantly influence their employment/unemployment status. Of the employed graduates, 27% reported that they consider themselves to be underemployed. The results show the strong influence structural factors have on determining employment prospects of graduates and question the extent to which higher education institutions and graduate employers reproduce social inequality through their graduate recruitment services and practices. |
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| Keywords: | graduate unemployment career guidance higher education graduate recruitment |
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