Collaborative research involving the Ministry of Education reveals that nearly 72 percent of public university graduates failed to secure employment within their first year.
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Nearly 72 percent of Ethiopian public university graduates failed to secure employment within their first year after graduation, according to a recent study conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
The research surveyed 25,393 of the 53,000 students who graduated from public higher education institutions during the 2016 academic year (2023/24 G.C.). Findings revealed that only 28.3 percent found jobs within 12 months, while 71.7 percent remained unemployed for over a year.
Dr. Musin Kelil, a lead researcher and Director of Academic Programs at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, reported that overall employment has since improved to 57.6 percent, leaving 42.4 percent currently unemployed. Female graduates recorded higher employment rates than their male counterparts, the study noted.
Researchers cited a systemic shortage of job creation and insufficient practical skills among graduates as primary drivers of the crisis. Among those still unemployed from the 2024 graduating class, 40 percent continue actively searching for work, 34 percent rely on family support, and the remainder are pursuing further education or volunteer opportunities.
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