Assessing the socioeconomic challenges of graduate unemployment on the community: the case of Sekela Woreda, Ethiopia

Abstract

Unemployment, particularly graduate unemployment, brings a huge impact on the community. Thus, the fundamental purpose of the study was to examine the socioeconomic challenges of graduate unemployment in the community. To do this, descriptive research with a cross-sectional design was used to reckon the socioeconomic challenges of graduate unemployment in the community, and a mixed research approach was employed. Accordingly, 279 survey respondents, 6 unemployed graduates, 5 parents of job seekers for the interview, six discussants, and 3 key informants were selected by employed stratified, simple random, and purposive sampling methods. The data which are obtained from survey questionnaires were analyzed through descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed by narration and thematic. Hereof, the findings depict that families of jobseekers and their community members have faced economic and social-related troubles. Thus, it brings economic bankruptcy, family strain, menanced for social security, and young students have low interest in education because of the presence of graduate unemployment.

Keywords:

• Community
• family
• socioeconomic effects
• unemployment

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Komalsingh Rambaree, Social Work and Criminology, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden

SUBJECTS:

• Environmental Economics; Family, Child & Social Welfare Law; Education; Sociology; Sociology of the Family; Sociology of Work & Industry; Criminology and Criminal Justice

1. Background of the study

Graduate unemployment has become a cause for serious concern in the world. Hence, it brought myriad problems to the economic, political, and social affairs of the society (Hanapi 2014). Besides, unemployment is the most sensitive issue in many countries; particularly it hardly hits developing countries. Since employment policies of both developed and developing countries are ineffective and seek urgent attention by vesting significant funds to mitigate the severity of unemployment. Inaction on employment policies brings a cost to the social, economic, and political issues of the country like it follows resentment, violence, inequality, and economic bankruptcy (Ivan 2019).

A large number of unemployed graduates from universities are coming to an awesome problem for the existence of social peacefulness and internal security of the family and society. Hence, the presence of unemployed graduates brought significant costs to parents. These families experienced bankruptcy because they invested in their kids’ education by expecting to receive it after joining the labor market though nothing got as per their expectations. The absence of employment opportunities for those youth educated causes the emergence of economic and social malaises in the country. Educated youth feel hopeless and have a sense of undesired ness in the labor market. As a result, graduate unemployment advents to the underpinning of social and political unrest, engagement in criminal activities, and base for squads that would be cumbersome for governance. In a nutshell, graduate unemployment among youth is the cause of socioeconomic disaster in countries at large and India in particular (Majumder 2018).

Graduate unemployment has become a very serious challenge in African countries. Among 10 million graduates who are supplied by 668 universities in Africa, half of these graduates failed to get and secure jobs. This indicates that graduate unemployment is one of the foremost critical developmental problems facing the African continent. Hence, countries lose active human power, bridle economic growth, causes poverty, and their family to economic bankruptcy in order to cover the basic needs expense of their kids until they secure job. Thus, it has to a large extent hindered many countries from achieving Sustainable Development Goals (Balogun 2016). Due to the rise in educational attainment among youth and the limited economic opportunities for skilled labor, unemployment is widespread among educated young people, and unemployed graduates are subject to social and economic challenges (Beshir 2014).

Research which has been conducted by Alemayehu (2019), in the Amhara region of Woldia town, demonstrates that the number of unemployed graduates is increasing alarmingly from year to year. The major factors of graduate unemployment are traced to the political, economic, and social cultures of the country that hinder educated youths to launch their private business. In accordance with these challenges, the job searching experience of graduates, and the working experience required by employers are some of the obstacles for educated youth unemployed in the area. In turn, the presence of unemployed in the area elicits great problems for educated youth as well as brings economic and political unrest and social malaises to the community. Thus, the economic crises of unemployed graduates affect the family intern and result in family tension or family relation constraint. Therefore, the researcher intended to examine the economic effects of graduate unemployment in the community and explore the social effects of graduate unemployment in the community of Sekela Woreda, Ethiopia.

2. Review of related literature

2.1. Theoretical literatures

The proponents of Marxist theory stated that unemployment brings so much misery and exacerbates the troubles of social stratification. Those in the underprivileged class have to rely on government handouts, which only create further poverty as those people struggle to make ends meet. This in turn affects the family structure by eliciting extra money expenses and tensions. The proponents of Marxism ideology deemed unemployment as more evidence of those who have powerful and privileged positions taking advantage of others. The reason that power is the main emphasis is the employment situation. While employed have a certain amount of power, both over the work environment and their life (Cristina 2019). Besides, Karl Marx saw unemployment resulting from the capitalist system itself as progressively worse. Marx did not conceive that in the long-term capitalist economies could be managed to reduce the extent of unemployment, nor did he think that market forces would reduce unemployment by their own consensus (Tesfaye 2015).

Furthermore, Keynesian economic theory focuses on recurrent supply shocks that suddenly reduce aggregate demand for goods and services, and thus decrease demand for workers, and this affects the life of families. Due to this, Keynesian theory orders that government interventions should be designed to increase the demand of workers; through financial stimuli, by expanding funds for and giving high attention to job creation, as well as via expanded monetary policies to reduce unemployment during economic recessions (UK 2018).

2.2. Empirical literatures

2.2.1. The socioeconomic costs of unemployment on the society

Graduate unemployment had a hideous and adverse impact on the health care of graduates, and their families because of scanty financial coverage, constrain the educational opportunity and motivation of young children, came to the causes for the family to be houseless, and increase family conflict and tension which has emanated from the absence of employment opportunity among educated youth. In line with this, social malaises in society, like the robbery of the property of others, burglary, and the practice of prostitution, rape, terrorism, kidnapping, and other sorts come through in the society (Ngọladi 2017).

In addition, there are a huge numbers of young graduates who still roam the streets jobless, not the reason that absence of jobs but because the circumstance of government and other private organization malpractice that experienced during employee recruitment and this come the cause for many graduates unemployed so far. The effects of corruption not merely deteriorates college and university graduates, but also affects the whole residents of the country and it makes life difficult there (Judith 2019). According to Ramon (2008), unemployment can condition the levels of economic development. Thereby, youth unemployment is challenging not only for those affected and their families but also for the economy of society as a whole. Hence, the presence of unemployment among young people implies unutilized labor potential and thus has a negative impact on the potential growth of the economy at large. In a similitude avenue, unemployment is manifesting the failure to make use of an important factor of production for fostering economic growth. On the other hand, unemployment may exacerbate the extent of criminality in a country as a consequence of youth unemployment that directly influences and bridles one country foreign direct investment (Berhanu 2005).

3. Methods and materials

3.1. Study design

The ultimate objective of the study was to assess the socioeconomic challenges of graduate unemployment in the community of Sekela, Ethiopia. To do this, a researcher followed a pragmatic worldview to understand the socioeconomic challenges of graduate unemployment by employed different methods. Thus, the descriptive type of research with a cross-sectional research design is the most appropriate design to pursue the stated objectives duly. Accordingly, the researcher employed the QUALITATIVE + quantitative concurrent research design by which the qualitative types of data are more weighted than quantitative data. Accordingly, a mixed method of data collection and analysis was utilized during the study. Along with a quantitative research approach, the survey research method was used to collect large amounts of data and made generalizations as per the obtained data from sample respondents. On the other hand, a qualitative approach, like in-depth interviews, Focus Group discussions (FGD), and key informant interview methods were employed. Hence, qualitative research enables research participants to flow their opinions towards the subject are explored through free and open discussions between members of a group and the researcher (Yeraswork 2010). In terms of time-wise, the study stayed from February 2021 and lasted until June 2021.

3.2. Study population and sampling techniques

The populations of the study were unemployed graduates who had Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), diploma, and degree certificate. As a result, from the entire target population, a sample has been taken of each certificate holder through a screen out based on the certificates they hold. To select sample respondents, both probability and non-probability sampling methods were employed. Amongst probability sampling techniques, stratified & simple random sampling methods were used on one hand, and from the non-probability technique, purposive sampling was employed to select interview participants on the other and. Therefore, to take a sample from the entire target population, sample selection was determined through sampling selection formula of Yamane (1967); n = N/1 + N ${(e}^2$) Where; N = total target population of the study, n = sample size $e^2$= the margin error n = 869/1 + 869(0.05) ${}^2$ n = 869/1 + 869(0.0025) = 274. Despite the number of sample have been 274 as per Yamane sampling calculation, the researcher intended to accrue 5% of the entire sample to minimize non-response when it occurred during data collection. In qualitative sample size determination, questions are posed to interviewees till adequate data saturation is obtained. However, the sample size for focus group discussion was determined by considering the severity of the newly emerged disease pandemic covid-19. So, the researcher was compelled to take a minimum number of participants in order to protect and emancipate participants from contracting the newly emerged pandemic disease covid-19 besides to practices covid-19 protective methods. Due to this, 6 unemployed graduates, 5 parents of jobseekers, and one group discussion which contains 6 discussants were taken as qualitative data sources.

3.3. Methods and instruments of data collection

The study employed a questionnaire that contains both close-ended and open-ended questions, which were administered by participants. Out of the entire 869 unemployed graduates, 288 samples were taken for filling out the questionnaires. Although 288 questionnaires were prepared and offered to the sample respondents, 9 respondents have not turned back the questionnaires, so 279 respondents have filed the questions. Besides, an In-depth interview method was employed and interview guideline has administered for the selected interviewees to attain good data. Due to this rationale, 6 unemployed graduates were taken purposively to get deep information about the circumstance of graduate unemployment. Moreover, Questions are posed to the Woreda Education Officer, Small and Micro Enterprise Expert, and Technical and Vocational Enterprise Expert who have detailed information about the socioeconomic challenges of graduate unemployment in the community. Along with this, 3 key informants were taken for obtaining information that pertains to the objective of the study, 6 unemployed graduates, 5 parents of unemployed graduates, and one group discussion which contains six parent discussants were taken for a qualitative data source. Hence, the sizes of in-depth interview participants were determined by data saturation.

3.4. Methods of data analysis and interpretation

A convergent parallel mixed method of data analysis was employed, while from the inception quantitative data were analyzed and cross-checked with qualitative data which are obtained from interviewees and discussants. Hence, the collected quantitative and qualitative data at the same time have been converged or integrated so as to provide a comprehensive analysis of the research problem (Cresswell 2009). As a result, the data which are collected through questionnaires were entered and coded in Spss version-23 and presented by descriptive statistics, like percentages, bar graph, and pie charts. On the other hand, qualitative data were analyzed in the form of narration and thematic analysis. From the very inception, the recorded voice had been organized and written on paper, and then the data was transcribed into English because the data were collected in the Amharic language. Then, a researcher analyzed the data in the form of narration and thematic and offered an interpretation as per the obtained data. Eventually, the quantitative results were integrated with qualitative data.

3.5. Validity and reliability of data

To make the data valid, by inception, the researcher reviewed many related pieces of literature to take relevant items that were pertinent to the study, after the instrument of data collection was sent to three research experts to check its content validity and then the given values for each question by those experts were calculated by lawshe’s (1975) formula: CVR = ne-N2/N2. Besides, to assure its dependability, the purpose of the study was clear for the participants, as well as the data gathered from different interviewees then after it has been documented in written and audio recordings. In order to enhance the reliability of the data, questions were adapted from different researchers, like ILO (2009), Temesgen (2017) by making minor modifications to make it match with the stated objective of the study.

3.6. Ethical consideration

The participants must provide explicit, signed consent to take part in the research, including understanding their rights to access their information and the right to withdraw at any point (Denzin 2011). Accordingly, before going to data gathering; a researcher holds a cooperative letter which was written by the Department of Sociology from Debre Markos University. In this avenue, the researcher solicited legal permission from the concerned bodies of the Woreda, as well as from participants who were involved in the study. Thereby, a cooperative legal letter was provided for the participants who were involved in the investigation. Besides, the privacy, anonymity, and confidentiality of the respondents are taken into consideration through voluntary consent and informing participants about the overall purpose of the research.

4. Results and discussion

4.1. Demographic characteristics of research participants

As figured in Table 1, 53.8% of survey respondents were females, and the remaining 46.2% were male unemployed graduates. Thereby, female unemployed graduates were greater than males who are jobless or unemployed yet in the study area. Correspondingly, this study finding confirms Mohammad (2018) finding, which indicates that 65 percent of the respondents were female fresh graduates and 35 percent, were male fresh university graduates. Thus, the percentage of graduate unemployment has a huge difference in terms of sex variable. That is why; the number of female unemployed seems outnumbered as compared to male college and university graduates. As a generic, employable variation between female and male has obtrusive among college and university graduates.

Table 1. Sex and age of survey respondents.

1. Sex	Frequency	Percentage (%)
Male	129	46.2
Female	150	53.8
Total	279	100.0
2. Age
18–23	47	16.8
24–29	207	74.2
30–35	25	9.0
Total	279	100.0
3. Marital status
Married	84	30.1
Unmarried	185	66.3
Divorced	10	3.6
Total	279	100.0

Survey, 2021.

Furthermore, as indicated in Table 1, 74.2% of survey respondents were found between the ages of 24–29. Besides, 16.8% were found in the age around 18–23 years. And, the least number 9.0% of survey respondents’ ages are found between 30–35 years. As per the obtained result of this survey, the majority of unemployed graduates were found between the ages of 24–29 years, so they classified in the youth part of the population in fact. According to this study, many of university graduates’ spent their golden time without job when they are on active working ages, and it shows how much developing countries unable to use human resource which is the base for sustainable development. This finding is similar to the study conducted by Ali (2018). His study finding indicates that the majority 85.88 percent of unemployed graduates are found in the age range of 20–30 in the study area.

Eventually, 66.3% of respondents were not engaged by marriage followed by 30.1% of jobseekers were getting married. However, 3.6% of unemployed graduates committed divorce after getting married. As a generic, based on the result of survey respondents, the scene of unemployment resembles abstaining or constrains many college and university graduates to get married and forming their own families on time. Since, lacks earning money to fulfill the required daily consumptions or to cover the basic needs of their family, so they opted to stay live alone without forming their own family. Therefore, this implies how having low economic status interdict individuals to form their own family and live independents of their parents. This survey result is a similitude to the finding of Beshir (2014) depicts that lack of job trail back people, particularly males to form a family because females were not obliged to have money to marry a husband in Ethiopia’s cultural context in fact.

4.2. Economic effects of graduate unemployment on family and community

It can be remembered that the objective of the study was examining the socioeconomic challenges of graduate unemployment on family and community. Therefore, the data of this objective has been presented here below:

As presented in Table 2, the majority 48.7% of survey respondents deemed that their parents were not easily attaining money to yield for their child. Hence, many parents were providing pivotal consumptions to their unemployed sons by borrowing from neighbors. In addition, the second majority of unemployed graduate parents borrowed money from government institutions to give to their sons followed by hiring outing their capital for specified years till debt or settlement terms end. Not only that but also they borrowed money from pawnbrokers at high interest rates. However, the least 31.5% of them responded their family was not confronted with trouble to assisting them.

Table 2. Economic effects of graduate unemployment on family.

1. Does your family attain money easily in their own wealth to fulfill your basic needs?		Frequency	Percentage (%)
Yes		88	31.5
No		136	48.7
Total		224	80.3
Missing	System	55	19.7
Total		279	100.0
2. If your answer is ‘no’ in question number 1, how they get money to assist you?		Frequency	Percentage (%)
By hire out their capital		27	9.7
Borrowing from their neighbor		57	20.4
Borrowing from pawnbroker		16	5.7
Borrowing from government		36	12.9
Total		136	48.7
Missing	System	143	51.3
Total		279	100.0

Survey, 2021.

Similarly, Out of the aggregate parent interviewees, the majority of them except two provide assistance for their unemployed child by borrowing money from pawnbrokers, by hiring out their arable land for specified years, and by government institutions, namely Amhara Credit and Saving Institute. However, two parent interviewees explained they were not experiencing trouble yielding money for their unemployed graduate son yet. Those two parents supply needful rates or consumptions from their own wealth without confronting crises, fortunately. Regarding having a debt from a government institution, one parent narrates as follows:

My wealth is not cogent for my sons to learn or continue their education, unfortunately. As a result, I was compelled to borrow money from Amhara Credit and Saving Institution which is found in Gish Abay town. However, the borrowed money is not served for the consumption of my child’s education alone but is also utilized for our house consumption. Still, this debt is not returned back for the government rather recycling it or turns for a certain day and immediately borrows again and again from year to year [UGPI-1].

According to this study result, graduate unemployment has been a cause for parents to have a debt even if they cannot employ the overall money for unemployed graduate sons. In succinct, the lack of jobs for educated youth contributes to economic bankruptcy, particularly for parents of unemployed. Likewise, with this study finding, other findings obtained by Temesgen (2017) also ascertained that unemployed graduates came as an economic burden for their parents. Due to the reason that even if they do have no money in their hand, most parents invest money in their son during attending education up to wind up of it though graduated son cannot attain a job rather dependent on his parents’ income.

4.2.1. Effects of graduate unemployment on contractors

As depicted in Figure 1, 74.9% of unemployed graduates answered that unemployed graduates bring economic effects on contractors who have had work licenses. On the other hand, the least 25.1% of respondents not perceived unemployed college graduates are the economic hindrance of contractors. Similarly, all interview participants (unemployed graduates) replied contractors faced big challenges which come from the presence of graduate unemployment. According to the reaction of participants, from year to year, many engineers graduated from different universities and are jobless or unemployed, and request government bodies to offer construction-related projects. Accordingly, government stakeholders give the majority of the construction projects to university graduates. Interview participants mentioned most of the time Woreda infrastructures, like school construction, water canals, hospital sheds, and other projects are primarily given to graduated engineers and those who attain degree and diploma certificates in order to reduce the extent of unemployment in this Woreda. Due to this, contractors failed to get these opportunities, unfortunately.

Figure 1. Economic effects of graduate unemployment on family and contractors.Survey, 2021.

Regarding unemployed graduates’ are the challenges of contractors; one interviewee (Engineer graduate) narrates as follows: ‘I remember that before one year when I was on working in dish or gully construction which has given to us by Woreda enterprise experts in Gish Abay town; one contractor comes to me and visit our deed and tell to by saying you and your peers are tackling for contractors because we contractors can’t get such government projects, even we have legal license and pay annual tax’.

Regarding this, Woreda Technical and Vocational Enterprise team leader and small and micro-enterprise expert mentioned there is a national rule and regulations or proclamation when the projects are come from and owned by the government. Thus, the proclamation order that ‘40% of the project shall primarily vest for new university graduates and 20% of government projects shall give for doyen enterprises those who were wined auction project in earlier but seeks to compete in the provided government projects. However, from the remaining 20% of government projects; private licensed contractors are permitted to compete with fresh unemployed graduates and doyen enterprise teams’. Due to this, the informant has revealed despite private licensed contractors being less profitable and will not attain profits as their expectation; they can’t be too many disadvantages. In addition, one informant (small and micro-enterprise expert) informed that the presence of unemployed graduates in the area also affects the other youths. Hence, according to the informant government give priority to university graduates to provide loan and other services as compared to other unemployed youths. For this reason, other illiterate and below ten grades completed unemployed youth are vulnerable and unable to get this opportunity and their chances come to tighten.

According to the results obtained from both the survey and interview, the researcher comprehends those contractors who have construction job licenses in various construction streams have lost many government projects. Since the abundant government projects are offered for university graduates so that can impair contractors in fact. Not only contractors’ job opportunities have been tightening, but other jobless youths are also affected by graduate unemployment. As a generic, the increment of unemployed graduates affects the job opportunities of other parts of the population, like contractors, and this discloses to heavy life for many family members in Ethiopia. This study’s findings corroborate the finding of Martha (2012), in which the presence of high youth unemployment reduces the employability of many other youth and results in a prolonged period of unstable jobs as prospective employers tend to develop negative perceptions of youth who have been out of work for a long period of time.

4.2.2. Unemployment status brings family economic bankruptcy

As presented in Figure 1, out of the aggregate survey respondents, 69.5% of were deemed their unemployment scene brings economic crises to their family. On the other hand, 10.8% of survey respondents replied that family is not confronted with economic crises while they offer assistance for their unemployed graduate child. Correspondingly, the data was obtained from an open-ended question regarding family economic crises of graduate unemployment; the majority of respondents mentioned that graduate unemployment breeds economic problems in families. Since parents are from the inception of student’s school expense up to secure job paying scarification to provide and fill the needful things for their unemployed child. In the open-ended question one respondent wrote the following quote: ‘በአሁን ሰዓት ሳስበዉ ቤተሰቦቼ በእኔ ምክንያት “አተርፍ ባይ አጉዳይ ሆነዋል”፡፡ ምክንያቱም እነሱ ሳይኖራቼዉ በብድር እንዲሁም በአራጣ በመበደር ልጄ ስራ ከያዘ በኋላ ብድራችንን እንዲሁም የእኛንም ህይወት ያሻሽልናል የሚለዉ ምኞት ባዶ ሆኗል፡፡ This Amharic connotation shows that ‘for the time being, my family dream or aspiration has been void. Because without having their own currency they teach me by borrowing money from else as well as borrowed from pawnbrokers by expecting he our son will repay after getting a job and can make better our life though their aspiration comes to fruitless’.

In addition to that, another one survey respondent wrote from open-ended question the following proverb: ‘"የወለዱት ይወልዳል” የሚባለዉ ከእኔ ቤተሰቦች ላይ አልሰራም፡፡ ምክንያቱም በእኔ ላይ የዘሩት ፍሬ ሳያፈራ ቀርልል፡፡ This Amharic statement indicates that the proverb ‘"yewoldut yiwoldal” is not working in my family. Since, despite they perceived their effort come to valid, their sow on me is not being fruitful or came with futile’. This means despite families investing money in their child’s education by aspiring to the future best life scene of their sons and for them, it can’t be succeeded, so that their tireless effort has been trivial and elicits merely economic loss.

As a generic, before and after graduation study participants are relying on family to obtain the needful things, so that it is the cause of family economic bankruptcy. That is why university graduates could not get employment opportunities to economically support themselves, and independent from their parents and relatives. This survey result is soundly similar to Belete (2016) research findings. Thus, families continued to give financial aid to unemployed graduates’, not because they had enough money in their pocket but by selling off their scant wealth like land and others so as to ameliorate the deprivation that caused unemployed young graduates. In line with this, the finding of Mathias (2013) indicates that 55% of the graduate unemployed stated that old parents who have invested their life savings to see their ward through graduation, hoping that the young graduate would find a decent job and assume responsibility over the family. Besides, the troubles of graduate unemployment reinforce poverty among youths, their parents, and the community. Thus, unemployed youth engaged in criminal activities like theft, conflict, and unwanted addiction in the community (Belayneh 2019). In corroborate with quantitative result regarding the economic effects of graduate unemployment on family, almost all unemployed graduate parents mentioned graduate unemployment bring significant troubles, such as debt, defalcate the existing asset, and this bridle or stem to involving in community affairs, because lack of money which served as a small requirement in the participation. Those interview participants (unemployed graduate parents) have borrowed money to yield for their child when intends to search for job in different areas. In line with this one male parent narrates his scarification for the child in the following way:

Notwithstanding I’m poor and lack money, I am still paying great scarification for my child to make her happy and keep her psychological feeling. Even when she graduated, we her parents had prepared a congratulatory program by drawing ample money for a festive meal. But for a time being, I cannot provide her needful consumption, because as you see my age is going to old or come to aged and my labor is reduced to plough arable land rather I also need support from else [UGPI-2].

In association with economic aid expectations of parents from their educated child, out of the six unemployed graduates’ parent discussants, all except one have explained they highly expect their graduated child to yield support or aid by hire in government sectorial offices. According to those discussants, their hope and aspirations come to dream without realization. In line with this, one discussant explains the aid expectation from his child after graduation was narrated as follows: ‘ያስተማርኩት ልጅ ይጦረኛል ስል እርሱ ጡረኛ አለኛ እናም እንዳለመታደል ልፋቴ ከንቱ ሆኗል፡፡ This Amharic speech depicts that ‘I have had an aspiration on my graduated son to support or provide aids to me when my age goes to older though my efforts or exertion comes to discredited unfortunately’ [UGPD-4].

As per results obtained from this investigation, unemployed graduate families were susceptible to loose of their economy, because they borrow money from government institutions and pawnbrokers to assist their unemployed children. In succinctly, graduate unemployment significantly impairs parents because of investing in child schooling without attaining prompt compensation from a child after completion of education. This interview result is supported by Alemayehu (2019), research findings which indicate that the majority of educated unemployed youth brought an economic crisis to their family. In addition, it has been confirmed by Tornyezuku (2017) research findings. His result indicates that high youth unemployment brought a negative effect on economic growth and productivity of families and even at the country level. There is a risk of loss of talent and skills, because many university graduates are unable to find a job and put their knowledge and capabilities into producing innovation and contributing to economic development. Moreover, the finding of Kahn (2010) shows that after university graduates have failed to find suitable jobs to their qualifications and training, they resort to any kind of job in the informal sector. Hence, aggregate consumption, production, savings, and investment are negatively impacted, as well as the unemployed graduates also suffer a social loss of responsibility, identity, and respect. Regarding the family economic crisis of graduate unemployment, the finding confirms the postulates of Marxist theory (cited by Cristina 2019). Unemployment creates profound troubles and expands social stratification. And those who were underprivileged have relied on and kept government and family hands. This scene affects family members by bringing extra money pressures and tensions. Since many unemployed graduates were attaining money from their family so that it subjects them to economic trouble undoubtedly.

4.3. Social effects of graduate unemployment on family and community

Another prominent specific objective of this investigation has to explore the social effects of graduate unemployment on the community. Hence, graduate unemployment brings detrimental effects on family members in particular and on the surrounding community at large. Thereby, the data obtained from survey respondents and interviews with different stockholders are demonstrated here below:

4.3.1. Graduate unemployment despair parents to encourage students to attained education

From the data shown in Figure 2, 91.6% of respondents responded that parents gave up on the efficacious of education and that not promote young students to attend their education. But, the least 8.4% have perceived that parents encourage young students to follow education. Here, the excessive presence of unemployed graduates in the country brings a detrimental effect on society to invoke or encourage children to education. Notwithstanding family encouragement can underpin for educational aspiration of the coming new generation, they cannot give heat-warming advice for young generations toward the value of education. The main reason that reduces the aspirations of parents toward the efficacious of education for their kids is traced from the presence of graduate unemployment in the study of Woreda in particular and in Ethiopia at large.

Figure 2. Social effects of graduate unemployment on family and social security.Survey, 2021.

4.3.2. Unemployment status create family strain

As presented in Figure 2, out of the aggregate survey respondents, around 75.6% of respondent parents were confronting family strain. Regarding this, the data obtained from the open-ended question depicts that graduate unemployment brings internal conflict between the unemployed and the rest of the family, parents to neighbors because parents failed to turn back the borrowed money for them when they borrowed it to assist their child. In addition, this research finding aligns with the finding of Allat (1992), in which economic uncertainty caused by unemployment brought about the deterioration of family relationships, such as the breakdown of family members, and the loss of family home. In corroborating with the quantitative finding of this study, respondents mentioned that family exposed to losing respect by unemployed graduate children. Since those unemployed graduate naked by their status and this ignites to inculcate the behavior of nag as well as a loop to altercate with their families. Similarly, one survey respondent enunciated his trait in the open-ended question ‘I always wrangle with my family members and have inculcated inconvenience trait’.

Correspondingly, the data obtained from unemployed parents’ interviewees infers that the absence of a job for the child highly upset them. Besides, one parent interviewee was unmasked for conflict which emanated from child unemployment. Hence, he pointed out his family scenario in the following way:

‘የእናት ልብ አይጨክንም የሚባለዉ እዉነት ነዉ ብዙዉን ጊዜ ከብት ሆነ ሌላ ነገር በሸጥን ጊዜ ግማሹን ከተማ ለተቀመጠዉ ልጃችን እንስጥ ትላለች፡፡ በዚህም የተነሳ እስከ መጋጬት እንደርሳለን፡፡’ This Amharic speech depicts that a mother is not cruel for her kid is sound’. Since, most of the time when we sold ship or else things, my wife intends or inclined to offer half of the money for our unemployed graduate child who resides in the town. Accordingly, I have reached to tussle with her, because of have not a mutual consensus on the provision of money [UGPI-3].

Therefore, based on the obtained data from the survey and interviews, unemployed graduates are the causes for disturbing the peaceful existence of family members for different reasons. For this reason that unemployed graduates whose families reside in rural areas pass their time in the town and this requires money which serves many consumptions. Similarly, this research result confirms a research finding of Temesgen (2017), a participant who explained how an unemployed son snatched family peace and security as follows: ‘My son gradually became disobedient and began to violate the family’s rules and norms completely. He began to frighten every member of the family. When he came at night, he disturbed the peace of the family; my son repeatedly said that he would kill his sister and brother’. In addition, as stated by Moeron (2016), the inability of unemployed graduates to successfully attain employment opportunities as per their field of study is a cause for concern and menanced for family members, and that loops into family conflict and relationship strains.

4.3.3. Unemployed graduate parents getting reprehends by peoples

Regarding community members reprehending unemployed graduates’ families, out of the aggregate survey respondents 81.7% of unemployed graduates’ families were not faced insult and reprehend by people because of the unemployment status of their child. On the contrary, 18.3% of unemployed graduates’ responds that their families have to get reprehends by society which is traced from their jobless child. According to the data obtained from survey respondents, except for some unemployed graduate’s parents, most parents were not reprehended by the nearby community members which have rooted from their unemployed child status.

4.3.4. The hindrances of graduate unemployment on social security

As depicted in Figure 2, out of the entire survey respondents, 68.5% of them deemed unemployed graduates as being a hindrance to social security. However, the remaining 31.5% of respondents did not support unemployed graduates come to constraints of social security. In support of this finding, Andrea (1992) works depict that unemployment leads to interpersonal and family conflict, social violence, and criminal activities. Besides, unemployment breeds social isolation that in turn gives rise to crime and anti-social behavior, and makes societies more vulnerable to civil disorder and political upheaval (ILO 2012). In the same manner of the quantitative findings of this study, a key informant, namely a Woreda police officer has stated graduate unemployment is the cause of social insecurity. For this reason, he reminds unemployed graduates’ let through their ample time by drinking alcoholic beverages and this loops them to conflict as well as commit crime in the Woreda. In this regard, he illustrates that:

Unemployed graduates are internalized depravity traits and are not considered literate, as well as they can’t bring behavioral changes. They collide with policemen when they made crimes in the Woreda. Notwithstanding the policeman’s request for them to come to the law, they consider themselves as of knowledgeable by showing protruding acts from society. Unemployed graduates stand for on the opposite side of law executive policemen and opt to contravene the rules and regulations. Besides, despite they have the right to be a member of any political party or involve in a political case, their act is so repealed from the law. He informed that they engaged in theft, illegal trade (controband), and attacking people, especially on Saturday around 10:00 -12:00 time AM [KI].

Likewise of this research finding, a research finding of Amanuel (2016) shows unemployed people are deprived of legal income resources except for unemployment benefits so that they are more likely to derive some income from illegal activities but the relationship is not strong. In addition, according to the data from survey respondents and informants (police officers), unemployed graduates were subject to committing crimes and disturbing both society and law-enforced bodies. Inconsequent, unemployed graduates were susceptible to punishment by the law when they contravened the seated law and regulations of the country undoubtedly. Hence, the absence of jobs goads those unemployed graduates to commit crimes and contravene the rule and regulations of the country. Besides, the result signals that the absence of employment opportunities discloses for sociopolitical turmoil’s in the study area in particular, and as a whole part of Ethiopia in fact. Likewise, this study finding has supported the research result of Alemayehu (2019). His research finding shows that due to a lack of jobs, unemployed graduates were involved in political disputes, as well as engaged in addictions, like alcohol, chat, and others and these hideous practices cause social insecurity. Besides, this finding is consistent with the finding of Namke (2008), the presence of high levels of youth unemployment; there is profound pressure on acquisitive crime like theft, robbery, and burglary in urban areas. He stated that many police forces were taking harsh measures on the unemployed criminals, indicating that higher levels of youth unemployment have already had a detrimental effect on crime in society.

4.3.5. Effects of graduate unemployment on young students’ educational motivation

As indicated in Figure 3, among the entire survey respondents, 203(72.8%) have responded that younger students’ educational motivation comes low, because of despair by the avail of education in. Besides, 68 (24.4%) survey respondents replied that the desire of young students toward education is very low because of the presence of unemployed graduates in the country. As data subsist from four unemployed graduate parent interviewees, the motivations of younger kids’ advent to reduce and melt, because older brothers and sisters stay unemployed so far. According to the obtained interview data, not only do young students give up on the avail of education but parents are also despaired by the value of education in Ethiopia. The same data has been obtained from unemployed graduates’ parent discussants. Hence, all discussants explained young students were not having good aspirations toward the value of education. Discussants stated that even though students let through their time in school, they are not given due attention to the courses. According to these discussants, young generations consider education as insignificant for future life.

Figure 3. Effects of graduate unemployment on younger students’ educational motivation.Survey, 2021.

On the same avenue, regarding the effects of graduate unemployment on young students, as per the Woreda education officer’s response, the interest of young students in education is coming down. According to his reaction, the dropout rate of young students from junior up to high school is going to a higher stage and shows a profound increment. He asserts that ‘in every family member at least there is one and more unemployed college graduates and this circumstance despair the hope of young students toward the avail of education’. Inconsequent, they opted to shun or spare their education and search works in the town as well as by fleeing to other areas. He notified out of the entire enrolled students each year those who cover 2% were dropout from their education by despair on the use of education which serves for future life. Since, this type of dropout rate is rooted in when their university graduate sisters or brothers turn back to the rural areas by lacking jobs has been significantly giving up young students, particularly in rural areas of this Woreda.

According to the results obtained from survey and interviews; the aspiration and interest of young generations toward the salutary of education coming to decrease because of graduate unemployment. Aspiration is a base for the success of future life, but young generations do not have high motivation toward education which has been traced from unemployment. In nutshell, the situation of unemployed university graduates creates a negative impact on the interest and hope of next generation’s as long as government and other concerned bodies failed to take instant measurements on unemployment. This study finding is similar to Daniel (2016), research findings. His finding depicts that most youngsters are hoping to live a better life through education and investing their scarce resources in schooling. However, when they look at their elders without employment even they are educated; they consider that education is not the only way to improve their livelihood and to lead a better life, and their aspiration to attend their education has decreased. In addition, as a result of the employment rate among college graduates found in the decline stage, the number of high school students enrolling rate in higher education dropped to about 70% recently (Choi 2017). Overall, this study signals and forecasts that the absence of jobs for university graduates brings detrimental effects on country sustainable development in terms of educated human resources, economic growth and political stability of a country.

Conclusion

The ultimate objective of the study was assessing the socioeconomic challenges of graduate unemployment on the community. To achieve the objective; a mixed research approach has been employed. Accordingly, the findings indicate that graduate unemployment is the most hindrances for country sustainable development. Hence, University graduates couldn’t get job as per their field of study, so that they stay without job for a long period of time. On this occasion, families of unemployed graduates and community members were subject to economic and social related troubles which emanated from the squeeze of graduate unemployment. Thus, unemployed graduate families have confronts economic problems, such as having a debt by borrowing from pawnbroker, government institutions and from their neighbors to assist their unemployed child; dependency in which unemployed graduates are compelled to live and keeps the hands of their family and other relatives in order to cover their needful daily consumptions, loss of asset even for a certain time. Unemployed graduates are susceptible to commit crimes, like engaging in illegal trade which is forbidden by the law of the country. Due to this, law enforcers were complained by their hideous action. Since, lack of job invoked university and college jobless graduates to commit various types of crimes, like illegal trade during night time, and tussles with their peers, as well as collision with other community members. In turn it elicits family conflict, despair by education, and menanced for social security or social turmoil which emanate from unemployment status. Furthermore, presence of unemployed graduates in the area despairs the motivation of young students toward the avail of education and opted to redirect their attention to engage on other jobs, like shoeshine, daily labor and others in their homeland area, and fleeing to other areas. The findings of this study regarding the socioeconomic effects of graduate unemployment on family and community members fits with the assumptions of Marxist theory by which unemployment loops unemployed to dependency and brings deplorable effects on family.

Implication

The socioeconomic problems of graduate unemployment on the family and the community members are going to severe. Therefore, if the government and other stakeholders’ couldn’t take instant intervention measures; the problem will be going adversely affect the youth, families, community, and the society on which the future of the country depends in many respects. In addition, failure to respond to the problem promptly and effectively will leave a black scar and irreversible message on the young generation’s education, family economy, social security, and other aspects of society. In general, I recommend other researchers conduct their research work on the causes of graduate unemployment and provide relevant information for the policy designer.

Recommendations

• Family members shall make minimize and restrains themselves from extravagance activities, namely for celebrating graduation ceremonies which have been the causes of economic loss.

• Woreda Education Office Experts, teachers, and family members should give advice to young generations on the value of education, and restrain from despair toward education. Since, without education, the problem will boost too much, meaning that the problem of unemployment can only reduce by creating innovative ideas and change them into practice. Hence, this innovative idea only obtains through theoretical and practical educations. In succinctly, even though the problem of unemployment is rooted in education, its solution also comes from education.

• Ethiopian Universities shall give attention for entrepreneurship training to equip their students with entrepreneurship skills.

• Law enforcers, like policemen, shall understand the cases of jobseekers and offer awareness creation about the coming effects to collide with policemen before going to pass a punishment.

• Graduate job seekers have to commence their private business by soliciting the government or lending from different institutions instead of engaging in illegal activities. Hence, these illegal activities raise complaints in the community, and this directly and indirectly affect the society.

• Woreda job creation officers shall suggest job seekers to launch their businesses by providing initial capital in order to emancipate them from dependency.

Author contributions

The author contributes to the success of this article from the very inception of title selection up to final manuscript preparation.

Acknowledgement

The author grateful to acknowledge Sekela Woreda Education Officers and team leader of Small and Medium Enterprise to offer pertinent information for the successful accomplishment of the research. Besides, the author thanks Mr. Zelalem (Assistant Professor of Sociology) for his valuable comments and consultation when doing this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Availability of data and materials is found on the hand of the author.

Additional information

Funding

This study was not funded by anyone.

Notes on contributors

Abie Assres Fenta

Abie Assres Fenta (MA) is a lecturer of Sociology at Debre Markos University, Ethiopia. He is currently a head of Department in Sociology at Debre Markos University. His research focuses on the challenges of graduate unemployment on education interest of young generation and on society at a large, impacts of COVID-19 on the society, prostitution and health related problems, gender and society, disability, and mixed research methods. Besides, he has a wide range of knowledge in reviewing different research articles, like gender inequality, child labor abuse, and culture among others.