Demographic Characteristics as Determinants of Unemployment among University Graduates in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study investigated demographic characteristics such as type of university attended, course of study and gender as determinants of duration of unemployment among university graduates in Nigeria. Data were collected from 1 451 employed university graduates in 300 firms in Nigeria. Results showed a significant difference between duration of unemployment and course of study (F_(6,1444) = 17.84; p < 0.05) with graduates of Engineering and Medicine having the least duration of unemployment. Significant differences also existed between duration of unemployment and the type of university attended (F_(2,1448) = 5.50; p < 0.05). Unemployment period was significantly shorter for graduates of private universities compared to those from public universities. However, gender differences did not significantly affect unemployment period (t_0.05 = -0.211; p > 0.05). One major policy implication of the findings is that entrepreneurial skills and initiative should become major concerns of higher education institutions to facilitate employability of graduates who will increasingly be called upon not only as successful applicants but also and above all as job creators.

Keywords:

• unemployment
• duration of unemployment
• university graduates
• course of study
• gender and type of university attended