Young African University graduates: Economic loss and agility in the chaos of COVID-19

Abstract

Over 500 mostly first-generation university graduates who formed part of an HSRC-led research study were excited at the prospect of securing and keeping employment in 2020. Doing so would enable them to embark on a trajectory of financial independence and help them contribute to their families and communities. Plans soon diverted when COVID-19 struck and forced governments to shut down social, economic and study spaces. Suddenly, graduates could not travel to seek opportunities and prospective employers were downsizing or closing. However, these young graduates demonstrated agility and were determined to find ways to navigate what has been termed "the new normal". Zibuyile Nene presents initial findings from the first year of "The Imprint of Education" - a longitudinal cohort study tracking 535 graduates who had been recipients of a Mastercard Foundation scholarship for their university education.