Skills Gaps and Mismatches: Private Sector Expectations of Engineering Graduates in Ethiopia

Abstract

This article investigates skills gaps and mismatches of engineering graduates. Sustained growth of the Ethiopian economy has created demand for construction work, yet despite the labour demand and engineering graduates seeking employment, employers identify skills gaps hindering their ability to employ them. The study uses key informant interviews with engineering graduates, lecturers, and private sector employers, and document analysis to collect data on the skills gaps and mismatches. The article argues that, while skills gaps are largely caused by poor design of the higher education curriculum and corrupted recruitment practices, the precarious nature of the construction sector and macroeconomic instability limit graduate employment even further. It suggests that education providers work collaboratively with employers to make the curriculum fit for purpose, and that government both makes more realistic and long-term plans for the construction sector, and increases university funding, with an emphasis on quality and practice-focused graduate teaching and learning experiences.

Influence of Academic Admission Qualifications on Student Skills Development in Public Technical Training Institutions in Kenya

“…As result the lecturers made no effort of teaching the students as they believed that they will still fail. Similar findings were established by Ngoveni (2018) in South Africa and Muthoni, (2015) in Kenya in which students could not perform simple mathematics like calculating distance and speed in a motor-vehicle mathematics, Yizengaw (2018) in Ethiopia in which students could not apply quantitative knowledge in practical learning and Yi et al (2015) in China in which a sharp student enrollment decline in computer science was noted before the students completed their first year of study. The findings thus emphasize that the open admission policy is a global problem which require further research.…”

Training of youths for effective self-employment practices

“…, 2016). Other studies have reported the skill gaps of youth (Yibeltal Yizengaw, 2018) and mismatches between skills and jobs (Marielle, 2020) as barriers to youth employment. According to the official reports, poor performance of micro and small enterprises is attributed to lack of basic knowledge and skills for running profitable business (SME, 2019).…”