Students Anxious Over Job Market After Graduation

As Ghana continues to battle high youth unemployment, final-year students at the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) in Wa are growing increasingly anxious about life after school. With graduation approaching, many are unsure of their chances of securing stable employment, despite years of academic pursuit and skills acquisition.

The students say the current job market offers limited opportunities for fresh graduates, pushing many into long-term unemployment or forcing them to settle for low-paying, unrelated jobs. This, they argue, undermines the investment made in higher education and creates uncertainty about the future.

Mr. Denis Akyereko, a soon-to-be graduate, shared his concerns in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA). He explained that the prevailing employment situation has forced him to consider starting a small business after completing his national service.

“Looking at the way things are, I can’t rely on government jobs,” he said. “My plan is to establish my own business and become self-employed, rather than wait endlessly for job openings.”

Mr. Joshua Osei Tutu, another final-year student, echoed similar sentiments. He stressed the importance of building a self-reliant mindset among graduates and urged institutions to place more emphasis on entrepreneurship.

“We need to change the narrative,” he stated. “Young people should be encouraged to create jobs for themselves rather than depending solely on public sector employment. Entrepreneurial training should be embedded into our education system.”

Calls for Supportive Policies and Access to Resources

Beyond entrepreneurship, students are also calling on the government to create a more supportive environment for youth-led businesses. Suggestions include tax incentives, start-up capital, and policies that favour young entrepreneurs.

Madam Diana Abono, a student at the university, believes the government can help ease the unemployment burden by expanding public sector job opportunities and leveraging technology to create digital markets for youth enterprises.

“There’s a growing digital space that young people can tap into,” she said. “The government should help create platforms that support small businesses, especially those run by the youth.”

Some students highlighted the challenge of accessing capital to launch businesses, describing it as a major barrier to their ambitions. They believe targeted financial support and tax exemptions would encourage more young people to venture into entrepreneurship.

National Youth Authority Responds to Student Concerns

Responding to the students’ worries, Mr. Felix Wuurah, Wa Municipal Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA), acknowledged the reality of youth unemployment and assured that government agencies are actively working to tackle the issue.

He revealed that the NYA is rolling out several initiatives aimed at equipping young people with practical skills for employment and self-sufficiency. These include vocational training programmes and entrepreneurship support schemes.

“One of our key interventions is the National Apprenticeship Programme, which provides hands-on training in trades like carpentry, dressmaking, satellite installation, and hairdressing,” Mr. Wuurah explained. “We don’t just train them—we also provide start-up kits and seed capital to help them begin work immediately after graduation.”

He also highlighted the STEP (Skills Towards Employment and Productivity) Programme, currently running in Lambussie, Sissala East, and Wa East districts. The programme targets at least 200 young people in each district, offering them technical and trading skills to enable them to build sustainable livelihoods.

A Call for Collective Action

Mr. Wuurah emphasized that addressing youth unemployment requires the collaboration of all sectors. While government continues to play a leading role, he called on private businesses, civil society, and local communities to join in creating more job opportunities for the country’s young people.

“We must work together—government, private sector, and communities—to ensure that our youth are not left behind,” he stated.

As graduation nears, many students in Wa remain hopeful that with the right support systems and policy frameworks, they can overcome the uncertainty of the job market and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s economy.