Why It's So Hard to Find a Job as a Graduate in Nigeria and Even Harder for Non-Graduates
For the majority of Nigerian graduates, the euphoria of having graduated from university is soon replaced with despair as they face the hard reality of unemployment. Every year, thousands join the growing queue of job seekers competing for limited spots. For non-graduates, it is even harder.
- Too Many Graduates, Too Few Jobs
Nigeria produces over half a million graduates annually, yet the economy is generating only a fraction of that number in new jobs. The result is overcrowding in the job market. Companies are struggling with high costs, erratic policies, and poor infrastructure, so most are not hiring. Government jobs are also scarce and highly politicized.
Non-graduates face even worse chances as many white-collar jobs require degrees, shutting them out before they even apply.
- Inappropriate Skills and Insufficient Training
Most schools still teach using outdated, theory-focused curricula that aren't relevant to today's marketplace needs. Today's employers look for digital, analytical, and technical skills, but many graduates leave school unprepared.
Non-graduates, with no opportunity for higher training or vocational studies, are simply left behind. The result is a generation of jobless individuals who are educated yet unemployable.
- No Experience, No Job
The majority of employers demand work experience, yet there are limited entry points for graduates to obtain it. Internships and NYSC postings exist to benefit some, yet several are denied practical exposure.
Soft skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership are just as valuable but are rarely learned in school. Non-graduates fare worse because they lack the formal training or mentorship that can build these skills.
- Nepotism and Limited Networks
Who you know seems to count more than what you can do in Nigeria. Many jobs are awarded based on personal relationships or insider referrals, and this makes it difficult for qualified but less-connected graduates to be given a chance.
Non-graduates face an even larger obstacle were they typically lack professional networks or alumni associations that could translate into opportunities.
- Economic Barriers and Underemployment
Inflation, low business confidence, and uncertain policies have forced many companies to retrench employees or employ contract workers. As a result, many graduates accept low-paying or unrelated jobs just to survive.
For the non-graduates, informal employment, typically with low pay and no benefits, is the only recourse. The expansion of underemployment shows how the economy is unable to absorb its labor.
- The Digital Divide
The job market of the world is more digital, but Nigeria lags in internet penetration, technology training, and computer literacy. Graduates who close the gap through e-learning have an edge, but non-graduates without such access fall behind even further.
In conclusion
Finding employment in Nigeria is difficult for everyone, and even more so for non-graduates. Graduates are faced with competitive markets and a lack of preparedness, and non-graduates are excluded from most formal opportunities.
To correct that, Nigeria must modernize education, strengthen vocational training, and support industries that can create sustainable jobs. If not, the gap between the educated and the unemployed will only continue to grow.
