Study of Unemployment Patterns Among Graduates in Enugu State

Graduate unemployment represents both an economic efficiency loss and a social challenge, and documenting its patterns among recent graduates in Enugu State provides evidence for aligning tertiary education with labour market needs in South East Nigeria. This study examined unemployment patterns among graduates who completed their degrees between 2018 and 2022 in Enugu State, South East Nigeria. A descriptive survey was conducted among 360 graduate job seekers across three major employment areas (Enugu North, Enugu South, and Enugu East LGAs). Data collected covered field of study, employment status, duration of unemployment, job search methods, and employer expectations. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied. Results showed an unemployment rate of 42.8 percent among sampled graduates six months post-NYSC. Social Science graduates showed the highest unemployment rates at 52.3 percent, while Engineering and Technology graduates showed lower rates at 31.4 percent. The mean unemployment duration was 18.4 months. Inadequate vocational skills (cited by 67.2 percent of employers interviewed) and over-expectation of graduate starting salaries (reported by 58.3 percent of graduates) were the primary demand-supply mismatch factors. Digital skills deficiency was identified in 72 percent of unemployed graduates. The study concludes that structural mismatch between university education and labour market demand is the dominant driver of graduate unemployment in Enugu State. Recommendations include curriculum reform incorporating practical skills, mandatory industry internship programmes, and career guidance centres at tertiary institutions.

Keywords: graduate unemployment, labour market mismatch, Enugu State, skills gap, human capital