1. World problems
  2. Graduate and post-graduate unemployment

Graduate and post-graduate unemployment

  • Chronically unemployed university graduates
  • Unemployed intellectuals
  • Professional unemployment
  • Graduate glut

Nature

A university education creates very high employment expectations. In some countries, a university degree may be looked upon almost as a guarantee of a soft and secure job in the government service, and in most it is assumed to be a membership card of the elite class. But, even in rapidly modernizing countries, the purely administrative jobs in the government service become filled fairly rapidly: for example, the demand for lawyers is certainly not as great as the demand for technically trained personnel. And in those societies where large enterprises are owned and managed by members of family dynasties, even the opportunities for professionally trained engineers and technicians may be limited, at least in the early stages of development.

Background

Graduate and post-graduate unemployment emerged as a recognized global issue in the late 20th century, as higher education expanded rapidly across both developed and developing nations. Initial optimism about advanced degrees guaranteeing employment gave way to concern as labor markets failed to absorb growing numbers of qualified graduates. By the 2000s, international organizations and academic studies began systematically documenting the mismatch between educational attainment and job opportunities, highlighting its persistence and socio-economic implications worldwide.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Incidence

[Developing countries]

In many developing countries there appear to be too many lawyers or too many arts graduates, and there may also be instances of unemployed or underemployed engineers, scientists, economists, and even agronomists. The unused intellectual, however, is sometimes unemployed because he is unwilling to accept work which he considers beneath his educational level.

[Industrialized countries]

Universities in developed countries have organized themselves to increase considerably the number of post-graduate students. The demand for such students is now decreasing, with the result that there is a considerable rise in postgraduate unemployment. This decrease has in part been due to decreases in government expenditure on research as a result of national economic problems.

Claim

This unemployment of intellectuals occurs or increases when the education available is not oriented towards the types of employment or service required by the true needs of society, or when there is less demand for work which requires education, at least professional education, than for manual labour, or when it is less well paid. (Papal Encyclical, Laborem Exercens, 14 September 1981).

Counter-claim

Graduate and post-graduate unemployment is grossly exaggerated as a societal issue. In reality, higher education equips individuals with critical thinking and adaptability, making them resilient in a dynamic job market. Temporary unemployment is a natural phase of career development, not a crisis. The focus should be on personal growth and lifelong learning, not alarmist narratives. Obsessing over graduate unemployment distracts from more pressing economic and social challenges facing our society.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Broader

Unemployment
Excellent

Narrower

Aggravates

Aggravated by

Over-education
Presentable

Reduced by

Related

Student debt
Presentable

Strategy

Value

Unprofessional
Yet to rate
Unemployment
Yet to rate
Underemployment
Yet to rate

Reference

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality EducationSustainable Development Goal #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(D) Detailed problems
Biological classification
N/A
Subject
Content quality
Presentable
 Presentable
Language
English
1A4N
D1162
DOCID
11411620
D7NID
139872
Editing link
Official link
Last update
Nov 25, 2022