2. Participants
The survey was conducted by the following people:
Mr. Nsubuga Dan Lead Researcher
Mr. Ahamed Sharif Adan Research Assistant
Mr. Abdurashid Omar Research Adviser
Mr. Muhoozi Happy Research Editor
Miss. Ogutu Auma Grace Chief Editor
3. Structure of the presentation
Introduction
Discussion of the methodology
Discussion of the survey Results
Discussion of the Policy strategies
Questions
4. Abstract
In Somalia, according to UNDP report (2012),
Majority of the graduates are unemployed.
Widespread graduate unemployment is a critical
aspect of the crisis facing the nation.
According to UNDP Somalia Human Development
Report (2012), the overall unemployment rate among
people aged 15 to 64, was estimated at 54 percent in
Somalia, up from 47 percent in 2002
5. Continued
Among the working-age population, one of the most
damaging individual experiences is unemployment.
Many previous studies have confirmed the devastating
effects of unemployment on individual attitude
towards the surrounding environment and well-being
both pecuniary and non-pecuniary.
Using the data from the survey, we examined the
impact of unemployment on the graduates` attitudes
toward education.
6. General Objective of the study The general objective of the study was to determine
the impact of unemployment on graduates` attitudes
toward education
7. Specific objectives
To determine the graduates` attitude towards
education
To provide solutions to the problem of graduate
unemployment in Somalia
8. Research Questions
What is the impact of unemployment on the
graduates` attitudes toward education?
What is the graduates` attitude towards Education?
What are the likely solutions to graduates
unemployment in Somalia?
9. Methodology
The methodology used in the study involved the use of
questionnaires in conducting interviews.
Respondents for the study were asked to respond to
questions posed by the researcher on the attitudes of
graduates toward education in Somalia
The respondents included unemployed graduates of
all levels ranging from High school graduates to Post
graduates
10. Sample size
The sample size included 100 graduates from
Mogadishu.
They were randomly selected using area random
sampling.
11. Data Analysis
The survey generated discrete, categorical and
measurable data. The data was analysed using SPSS
(Statistical package for social scientists) for descriptive
analysis and regression analysis.
12. Definition of unemployment
According to Mankiw (2003), a person is considered
employed if he or she spent most of the previous week
working at a paid job. A person is unemployed if he or
she is on temporary layoff, is looking for job, or is
waiting for the start date of a new job
13. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION
OF THE FINDINGS
3.1 Characteristics of the Respondents
3.1.1 Age of the respondent
Results from the survey indicated that 75 percent of
the respondents were between the ages of 15-30 years.
14. 3.1.1 Age of the respondent
Age Group Frequency Percent Valid Percent
Cumulative
15-30 72 75 75 75.0
31-40 17 17.7 17.7 92.7
41-50 7 7.3 7.3 100
Total 96 100 100
15. Interpretation
Results from the survey indicated that 75 percent of the
respondents were between the ages of 15-30 years
In modern society, employment is a central feature of daily
life and the main source of financial independence, status,
prestige, identity, and social participation.
Between the ages of 15 and 30, an individual fights for
financial independence, status and identity and in so doing
the individual contributes significantly to the development
of the community
However, from the above results, it is realized that the
most productive ages of the community are put to waste
with limited contributions to the development of the state.
16. 3.1.2 Gender of the respondent
Gender Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Male 76 79.2 79.2 79.2
Female 20 20.8 20.8 100.0
Total 96 100.0 100.0
17. Interpretation
Results from the survey indicated that 79 percent of
the unemployed respondents were Males and 21
percent were females.
Being the major bread winners of the family
unemployment has more devastating impacts on the
males than the females because they have a lot of
responsibilities to take care of.
18. 3.1.2 Marital Status of the respondents
Marital
Status
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Single 60 62.5 62.5 62.5
Married 29 30.2 30.2 92.7
Divorced 5 5.2 5.2 97.9
Widowed
2 2.1 2.1 100
Total 96 100 100
19. Interpretation
Results from the survey indicated that 62.5 percent of
the respondents were single and 30.2 percent were
married.
Though of marriageable age, 62.5 percent of the
respondents were still single. The main reason of their
status was lack of employment.
20. 3.1.4 Education Level of Respondents
Education
Level
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Primary 8 8.3 8.3 8.3
High School 14 14.6 14.6 22.9
Technical 7 7.3 7.3 30.2
University 61 63.5 63.5 93.8
Post-Graduate 6 6.3 6.3 100
Total 96 100 100
21. Interpretation
Results from the survey indicated that 63.5 percent of
the respondents were university graduates. University
graduates are a very important pool of productive
human capital that every nation strives to attain.
However, if that labour pool is not utilized in the most
efficient way it retards the nation especially if the
education system does not produce technical skills.
These skills encourage creativity and innovation
which in turn facilitate production of job creators
other than job seekers.
22. 3.1.5 Unemployment type of the respondents
Unemployment
type Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Voluntary 33 34.4 34.4 34.4
Involuntary 52 54.2 54.2 88.5
Seasonal 11 11.5 11.5 100
Total 96 100 100
23. Interpretation
Results from the survey indicated that 34.4 percent of the
respondents were voluntarily unemployed, 54.2 percent
involuntarily unemployed and 11.5 percent were seasonally
unemployed.
The results revealed that majority of Somali graduates are
unemployed because of factors beyond their control that is
to say not of their own making. The factors presented that
caused their unemployment included; company closures,
dismissal due to lack of adequate technical skills that the
foreign companies and some local ones require and
shortage of employment opportunities in Somalia.
yet education institutions continue producing more
graduates competing for the few available opportunities
24. 3.1.6 Unemployment Period of the respondent
Unemployment
Period
Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative
less than 6
months
23 24.0 24.0 24.0
6-12 months 32 33.3 33.3 57.3
1-2 years 12 12.5 12.5 69.8
2-5 years 12 12.5 12.5 82.3
>5 years 17 17.7 17.7 100.0
Total 96 100.0 100.0
25. Interpretation
Results from the study indicated that 24 percent of the
respondents were unemployed for less than 6 months,
33.3 percent were unemployed for 6 to 12 months, 12.5
percent were unemployed from 1 to 2 years, 12.5
percent unemployed from 2 to 5 years and 17.7 percent
were unemployed for more than 5 years.
The survey shows that there are a significant number
of graduates who have been unemployed for more
than 5 years. This calls for urgent government
intervention in order to reduce their vulnerability to
falling into dubious means of earning a living.
26. 3.2 Respondents` attitudes toward education
In this section the survey measured the respondents’
attitudes toward education using a number of
indicators or parameters as shown below:
27. 3.2.1 Do you still consider paying school fees for your
children up to the university?
The survey used this parameter to determine the
respondents` attitudes toward education.
The parameter indicated if after the respondent being
unemployed he/she still considered paying school fees
for his/her children up to University level.
28. Table 3.8: Do you still consider paying school
fees for your children up to university?
Response Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Yes 49 51.0 51.0 51.0
No 47 49.0 49.0 100.0
Total 96 100.0 100.0
29. Interpretation
Results from the survey indicated that 51 percent of the
respondents still considered paying school fees for their
Children up to university. This indicated that the
unemployed graduates still have positive attitudes toward
education and they need their children to get education.
This attitude will help to promote education as the parents
and parents-to-be still consider fostering education by
paying school fees for their children.
However, when we compared the percentage of those
respondents who still considered paying school fees for
their children up to University (51 percent) to the
percentage of those who did not consider paying school
fees for their children (49 Percent), the study revealed
worrying results.
30. 3.2.2 Responsibility in paying school fees for
Children
Responsibility in paying children`s school fees by the
respondents was used as an indicator of the
respondents’ attitudes towards education. After being
unemployed, the respondents were asked if they still
felt that it is their responsibility to pay school fees for
their Children. The study found the following
responses.
31. Do you feel it is your responsibility
to pay school fees for your Children?
Response Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Yes 58 60 60 60
No 38 40 40 100.0
Total 96 100.0 100.0
32. Interpretation
Results from the survey indicated that 60 percent of the
respondents felt that it is still their responsibility to pay
school fees for their children, while 40 percent of the
respondents felt that it is not.
This indicated that because of lack of employment
respondents no longer felt that it was their responsibility to
pay school fees for their children. From the results above it
can be concluded that unemployment adversely affects
people`s attitude towards education.
This therefore, calls for urgent intervention by the state to
either offer free education or work on a strong policy that will
facilitate employment creation, if the country is to achieve
development and stability.
33. 3.2.3 Blame on the education system for the
unemployment prevalence.
This was also used in the study as a measure or
indicator of the respondents` attitudes toward
education. The respondents were asked whether they
blamed the education system for their unemployment.
34. Do you blame the education system for
unemployment?
Response Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative
Yes 32 33.3 33.3 33.3
No 64 66.7 66.7 100.0
Total 96 100.0 100.0
35. Interpretation
66.7 percent of the respondents did not blame the
education system for their unemployment
this is an indicator of having positive attitudes toward
education.
33.3 percent of the respondents revealed that they
blamed the education system for their unemployment
36. Continued
The survey found that the system creates job seekers
rather than job creators yet in the economy there is
limited number of white collar jobs as compared to the
number of graduates that are produced by the
numerous education institutions.
This is a significant indicator that there is a
considerable number of people who blame the
education system as the major cause of unemployment
and this attitude increases, the longer an individual
stays unemployed
37. 3.2.4 Opportunity cost of pursuing education
This was used as an indicator in measuring the
respondents’ attitudes toward education as it
measures the alternative foregone as an individual
pursues education. These costs include time and
money spent pursuing education.
38. Do you think you wasted your time and money
by pursuing education
Response Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Yes 21 21.9 21.9 21.9
No 75 78.1 78.1 100.0
Total 96 100.0 100.0
39. Interpretation
the study indicated that 78.1 percent of the
respondents didn’t incur opportunity cost by pursuing
education. This meant that they did not waste their
money and time pursuing education.
22 percent of the respondents indicated that they
incurred high opportunity costs in pursuing education
thereby wasting their time and money. This is an
indicator of a negative attitude towards education by
the respondents.
40. Continued Though the 22 percent of the respondents with a
negative attitude seems insignificant, the study
showed that the longer an individual stays
unemployed, the more he/she develops a more
negative attitude towards education.
In the long run this attitude will negatively impact on
economic growth as he/she will not be in a position
to promote education for his/her children.
41. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
What should be done to reduce unemployment?
In Somalia, majority of the graduates are unemployed.
Widespread graduate unemployment is a critical aspect of
the crisis facing the nation, but cannot be tackled in
isolation from the wider crisis confronting the Somali
economy.
Sustainable employment creation should be an essential
aspect of any economic growth strategy addressing the dual
challenges of providing decent work to graduates and
strengthening their capacities for national development.
This can be achieved through the following strategies:
42. 1. Education Diversification
At present, the economic entities operating in the
country mainly consist of telecommunications
(especially telephone) firms, money transfer entities
(or hawalad), water/power distribution firms and
petty traders.
These private sector entities are far from being able
to absorb the ever increasing unemployed or under-
employed graduates. This creates need for an
extensive approach to widening the employment
search and creation for the graduates
43. Continued
This can be done by extensively opening up vocational
training centers.
This will provide the demoralized graduates with
technical skills on top of the white collar skills that
they acquired in the universities
The role of the government would be to re-open the
numerous vocational and technical centers/institutes,
which Somalia had before the start of its tragic civil
war
44. 2. Facilitating the growth of small and Medium
Enterprises.
The national authorities could encourage and promote
small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to aid the
graduates as another important approach for
enhancing employment opportunities and eradicating
poverty among them.
45. 3. Adoption of import substitution
industrialization strategy.
Import substitution industrialization (ISI) is a trade
and economic policy that advocates replacing foreign
imports with domestic production.
ISI is based on the premise that a country should
attempt to reduce its foreign dependency through the
local production of formerly imported industrialized
products.
46. Continued
ISI works by having the state lead economic
development through nationalization and
subsidization of vital industries (including agriculture,
power generation, etc.).
It is the responsibility of the government of Somalia to
identify the key strategic industries in the country that
will help to enhance the growth of other industries in
key sectors in order to achieve increased production
47. Key note
In conclusion it is up to Africans to come up with
African solutions to African problems as it is the
responsibility of all Africans to focus on our continent
and strategizes ways that will enhance our growth and
development.
May Allah save and protect our great nation Somalia.
