A new study conducted by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) in collaboration with the East African Business Council (EACB) showed university graduates in East Africa are ill-prepared to take up entry-level positions created by firms investing in the region,
The problem is so acute that only 27 percent of employers in East Africa expressed confidence that graduates from universities in the region were adequately prepared to take up management entry jobs in their firms, according to data contained in the study.
A total of 47 percent of employers reported that lack of the right skills was a major reason they did not fill vacancies. For most employers, not being able to find the right candidates was a significant issue, to the point that 70 per cent of employers in the region stated that they would pay significantly more to get qualified employees.
“A third of employers stated that lack of the right skills was causing major business problems, in the form of cost, quality or time,” the study says. The problem of skills gaps was also worsening youth unemployment, it adds.
The study aimed at establishing the current state of higher education qualifications systems and their contribution to human resource development, productivity and graduate employability in the East African Community (EAC) partner states.
Matthew Farmer's insight:
Youth employability is a critical issue globally. But in Africa, the value of getting it right and the problems associated with getting it wrong are perhaps magnified to the greatest extent. With 1 billion extra Africans joining the global population over the next 35 years the contribution to the global workforce could be immense but the problems of having so many young people without meaningful employment is a recipe for massive unrest.
To me what is striking about this research report produced last year, is that the jobs are not the problem. It is the skills that really seem to matter. In addition, the report acknowledges just how important the private sector is in addressing the gap. From providing internships to students to offering placements for professors to gain corporate exposure to sponsoring chairs at universities and co-developing curricula, this is clearly another area where the private sector has the potential to drive positive change on the continent.