Strategies which youth graduates in Thulamela Local Municipality can adopt to take entrepreneurship as a career

Abstract

Youth unemployment is a problem across the globe in both developing and developed countries. Achieving a certain qualification does not guarantee employment as the job market is saturated and cannot employ every youth graduate who has attained a certain qualification every year. Youth entrepreneurship boosts economic growth, reduces unemployment and creates job opportunities. However, the rate of youth unemployment remains a problem facing graduates. This study aimed to determine strategies that youth graduates in Thulamela Local Municipality can adopt to develop entrepreneurship into a career. The qualitative approach and exploratory research design was used in conducting this study. Purposive, nonprobability sampling was adopted using semi structured interviews and observations to collect data through face-to-face interactions, as well as telephonic interviews with nine (9) unemployed youth graduates in Thulamela Local Municipality. Data was analysed using Atlas.ti8. The findings revealed that some of the reasons youth do not take entrepreneurship as a career include lack of motivation regarding entrepreneurship, fear of failure and a lack of finances. Some of the strategies which youth graduates can adopt to follow a career in entrepreneurship involve motivation for entrepreneurship, financial assistance, networking and connecting with appropriate associates. The study suggests that the government, as well as nongovernment organisations, should collaborate to promote youth entrepreneurship. The study contributes to existing literature since it provided findings from unemployed youth graduates in Thulamela Local Municipality. The results of the study, which was carried out in Thulamela Local Municipality, may not be generalised in other municipalities. Further research about youth entrepreneurship should be conducted to increase participation.