The mismatch between supply of university graduates and demand in the graduate labor market in Ghana.

摘要

Immediately after Independence on March 6, 1957, the government of Ghana put in place a policy called the "Guaranteed Employment Policy," which guaranteed the employment of every university graduate in Ghana regardless of area of specialization.;However, over the years oversupply of liberal arts graduates due to unplanned admissions policies by the university authorities has led to very high unemployment, underemployment, and/or mismatch between supply of university graduates and demand in the graduate labor market in Ghana. The problem has been compounded by the increasing number of liberal arts graduates coming out every year to join an already saturated labor market. The problem has become so serious that no concerned Ghanaian can overlook its existence.;The purpose of the study, therefore, was to identify the causes for the high unemployment, underemployment, and/or mismatch between supply of university graduates and demand for them; the types of training offered and received by the graduates; and the types of skills and qualifications needed in the graduate labor market.;The present study employed the survey sample method using questionnaires prepared for three groups or subsamples, which included 150 final year students, 300 graduates, and 55 employers. Data were also collected in the United States and Ghana. In addition, follow-up interviews were conducted in an effort to ascertain more information from the respondents to supplement the research questions.;The literature review suggested a number of possible causes for the high unemployment and/or mismatch between the supply and demand in the graduate labor market for liberal arts graduates. Among the reasons are unplanned admissions policies, inadequate preparation of the graduates prior to entry into the job market, outdated curriculum and teaching methods, the state of the economy, employer requirements, lack of continuous manpower policy, and lack of expansion of the private sector and small venture industries.;The foregoing strongly led to the conclusion that there is greater need for a closer look at the general educational system, with emphasis on university admissions policies, reform of the curricula so as to reflect the economic development, social, and cultural needs of the country, upgrading the qualification of teachers and equipment, and reform of the examination system.