Vocational interest, skills, and counselling as correlates of unemployed graduates’ readiness to enter low-paying occupations in Delta State of Nigeria

P. I. Tibi

doi:10.21744/irjmis.v11n1.2389

Authors

P. I. Tibi
pauline.tibi@unidel.edu.ng
University of Delta Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria

Keywords:

counseling, low-skill occupations, skills possessed, unemployed graduates, vocational interest

Abstract

There is a high level of unemployment amongst National Youth Service Corps-discharged graduates of universities and polytechnics in Nigeria, especially in Delta State. This necessitated guiding these graduates to take to low-skill, low-paying jobs, as an alternative to redundancy and the attendant indulgence in anti-social behavior. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between vocational interest, skills possessed and vocational guidance techniques, and unemployed graduates’ readiness to enter into low-skill occupations. A research hypothesis was formulated for the correlational design study. Three instruments: the Modified Bakare Vocational Interest inventory (MB VII), the vocational skills possessed inventory (VSPI), and the vocational guidance techniques (counseling) were used. The study population comprised of all unemployed NYSC-discharged graduates in Delta State. Purposive sampling was used to select two Local Government Areas (LGA’s) from each of the three Senatorial Districts of Delta State (Six LGA’s). Random sampling was used to obtain two hundred and forty respondents from the six LGAs. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results indicated that vocational interest, skills possessed and counseling had significant relationships with unemployed graduate's readiness to enter low-skill occupations. They were all predictors of entry into low-skill jobs except counseling.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alias, M., Sidhu, G. K., & Fook, C. Y. (2013). Unemployed graduates’ perceptions on their general communication skills at job interviews. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 90, 324-333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.07.098

Belot, M., & Van Ours, J. C. (2001). Unemployment and labor market institutions: an empirical analysis. Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, 15(4), 403-418. https://doi.org/10.1006/jjie.2001.0486

Berings, D., De Fruyt, F., & Bouwen, R. (2004). Work values and personality traits as predictors of enterprising and social vocational interests. Personality and Individual Differences, 36(2), 349-364. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(03)00101-6

Egbochuku, E. O. (2000). Counsellors as facilitators for the successful implementation of the universal basic education scheme in Nigeria.

Egboochuku, E. O. & Alika, H. l. (2008). Socio-economic status and vocational interest as correlates of re-entry of girls into schools in Edo State. Benin Journal of Gender Status 1(1)102-112.

Feldmann, H. (2009). The unemployment effects of labor regulation around the world. Journal of Comparative Economics, 37(1), 76-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2008.10.001

Herianto, E. (2017). The effect of learning strategy, achievement motivation, and communication skill toward learning outcomes on the course PMPIPS-SD at PGSD. International research journal of management, IT and social sciences, 4(5), 1-11.

Kramer, A., & Kramer, K. Z. (2020). The potential impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on occupational status, work from home, and occupational mobility. Journal of vocational behavior, 119, 103442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103442

Ljupco, N., & Jasminka, N. (2017). Unemployment an unauthorized unique road about apathy and poverty the Macedonian man without knowledge and skills. International Research Journal of Management, IT and Social Sciences, 4(4), 44-57.

Megbo, B. C., & Ahaotu, G. N. (2015). Perspectives on manpower development programmes and graduate unemployment in Nigeria. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, 2(3), 359-366.

Mortimer, J. T., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Holmes, M., & Shanahan, M. J. (2002). The process of occupational decision making: Patterns during the transition to adulthood. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 61(3), 439-465. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.2002.1885

Salisbury, L. (2014). Selective migration, wages, and occupational mobility in nineteenth century America. Explorations in Economic History, 53, 40-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eeh.2014.02.001

Schultz, I. Z., Crook, J., Meloche, G. R., Berkowitz, J., Milner, R., Zuberbier, O. A., & Meloche, W. (2004). Psychosocial factors predictive of occupational low back disability: towards development of a return-to-work model. Pain, 107(1-2), 77-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2003.09.019

Tibi, E. U. (2012). Vocational Agriculture in School for Productivity and Entrepreneurship: Are we teachers succeeding. 2nd Distinguished Lecture Series of Colleges of Education.

Virtanen, P., Janlert, U., & Hammarström, A. (2013). Health status and health behaviour as predictors of the occurrence of unemployment and prolonged unemployment. Public health, 127(1), 46-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2012.10.016

Wu, C. C. (2011). High graduate unemployment rate and Taiwanese undergraduate education. International Journal of Educational Development, 31(3), 303-310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2010.06.010

Wu, W. T. (2000). Vocational interests and career maturity of male high school students talented in math and science. Proceedings-National Science Council Republic Of China Part D Mathematics Science And Technology Education, 10(3), 137-143.