Abstract:
According to the International Labour Organisation (2019), in 2018, an estimated 172 million people were unemployed worldwide. Namibia recorded an unemployment rate of 33.4 % with a total of 364, 411 unemployed people between the period of 2016 and 2018 (Namibia Statistics Agency, 2019). This research explores the gendered experience of unemployment among university graduates in Windhoek. Qualitative research method and an illustrative case study research design were used in this study. Purposive Sampling was used to select ten male and ten female unemployed graduates from the University of Namibia and the Namibia University of Science and Technology. Semistructured interview schedules were used to collect the data. The findings of this research demonstrated that unemployment has a notable effect on both males and females. However, it was established that there are differences in male and female graduates‟ experiences of unemployment. The findings revealed that societal expectation and pressure to secure employment is far greater for males than it is for females. In addition, the study found that some, but not all, degree programmes offer practical skills,
indicating a skills deficit among research participants from certain degree programmes. Consequently, participants‟ career choices constitute a higher probability for male participants to secure employment since more males were enrolled in natural sciences degree programmes which offers practical skills as part of the course curricula. This study therefore suggests that universities and labour market should facilitate internship opportunities to accommodate graduates from all disciplines. This would ensure that all university graduates gain formal work experience and practical skills in order to easily and successfully transition from university into the labour market.
