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Moving Toward an Equitable Society

The Value of Decolinizing the Term Employability

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Abstract

In the current times, within the Southern African context, the role of academic qualifications is becoming highly questionable. Degreed youths are unemployed and still lack the cognitive capabilities and ambition to be entrepreneurial. There is also a failure to acquire decent jobs as most graduates are in nongraduate jobs in which they earn nondecent wages as the economies in the region continue to shrink. This is predominantly the reality of graduates from historically disadvantaged universities. Their income is insufficient to pay their college debts, change their standard of living, and fund their dreams, making it difficult for them to climb into the middle class. Therefore, to create an equal and just society, there is a need to redefine employability, relook at higher education, and deal with the wage gap in organizations. The critical question is: Do employers view degrees from historically disadvantaged universities the same as those from historically advantaged universities? The argument presented highlights the need for effective resource utilization and reskilling of students and workers beyond mere job search. It is recommended that to achieve a just society through employment, the following aspects must be considered: stakeholder collaboration, review of innovation and skills needed in Africa, intensive indigenization and African frameworks, and professional identity and effectiveness for positive psychology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia

    Clifford Kendrick Hlatywayo

  2. Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa

    Tanaka Last Jere

  3. University of KwaZulu Natal, Mthatha, South Africa

    Nobert Rangarirai Jere

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  1. Clifford Kendrick Hlatywayo
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  2. Tanaka Last Jere
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Hlatywayo, C.K., Jere, T.L., Jere, N.R. (2023). Moving Toward an Equitable Society. In: The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Problems. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68127-2_422-1

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