Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 22-10-2019

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Employment organization Lulaway says matriculants qualifying in 2019 are more disadvantaged in the job market than their non-matriculant counterparts.

Thousands of matriculants across the country have started their final examination and with the difficult economic climate, job hunting may become extremely challenging.

While millennials are considered confident and aspirational, Lulaway says the current education level combined with a generation’s expectations means that many matriculants are not equipped to succeed in the current economic climate.

CEO and founder of Lulaway Jake Willis says a 2019 matriculant has been educated from Grade 1 with a curriculum designed for an office employee – a blue- or white-collar worker.

Willis adds that digital access means that the information they are consuming reinforces a first-world expectation that a school leaver deserves, and is capable, of a decent job instantly.

“Social media has shown them extreme wealth and celebritism from all over the world, which they believe can be their reality. And then, our country’s unique historical narrative leaves many with a sense of privilege of being born into a democracy that automatically affords them a certain career path.”

Willis says while there are more job openings in more manual types of work, it is often in sectors or types of work which matriculants/graduates do not want to work in.

“Our economy needs manual, and often labour intensive jobs, such as security, cleaning and warehousing. Unfortunately, having been prepared for a higher level, they deem these jobs unfit for their aspirations, and when given the choice, often choose unemployment, or leave the job within the first three months when reality hits.”

Willis says there are a limited number of entry-level office jobs available, and as a result, only the brightest or most connected youth will get these jobs, leaving the rest of the matriculants with only their high expectations and no real job opportunities which are relevant to them.