Career Misalignment

A Growing Challenge for Ethiopia’s Workforce and Economy

Ethiopia’s rapidly growing economy presents a promising landscape, but beneath the surface lies a critical challenge: a significant mismatch between the aspirations of its young population and the realities of the job market. While the nation strives for economic diversification and job creation, societal pressures often steer students towards prestigious professions like medicine or engineering, regardless of personal interests. This misalignment leads to job dissatisfaction, reduced productivity, and increased turnover rates for companies.

EBR’s Mintesnot Nigusse delves into the stories of individuals grappling with this issue, highlighting the personal and economic consequences. He explores potential solutions, including the importance of career guidance, parental involvement, and fostering a workplace culture that prioritizes employee well-being. Addressing this mismatch is crucial for Ethiopia to harness its full economic potential and create a more fulfilling and productive workforce.

Ethiopia has been one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, with an average GDP growth rate of around 7.9% over the past decade. As the economy diversifies beyond traditional agriculture, new industries like manufacturing, technology, and services are emerging. This diversification broadens the job market and creates roles demanding higher skills and specialization. It is also recognized that the Ethiopian government is implementing policy reforms, including the establishment of the Ministry of Labor and Skills, to address high unemployment. As a result, Ethiopia saw significant progress during the fiscal year, creating 3.8 million jobs, with 3.4 million domestically and 332 thousand through foreign employment.

However, with a population of 130 million, 61.7 million of whom are part of the labor force with a median age of 20, Ethiopia faces significant labor market challenges. This youthful workforce offers opportunities for economic growth but also presents challenges due to the overlooked mismatch between initial career aspirations and the reality of finding suitable jobs.

In Ethiopia, careers such as being a doctor or a pilot are viewed as ensuring financial security and status, causing families to guide children towards these paths. This pressure can lead students to prioritize family expectations over personal interests, resulting in depression and diminished job satisfaction. Those lacking genuine interest may show reduced productivity.

Additionally, a mismatch of qualifications and job availability pushes educated youth into less fulfilling roles, hampering labor productivity and economic growth. Individuals facing these challenges in the job market struggle to progress academically, leading to dropouts and affecting career motivation deeply.

Elizabeth Mekonnen’s journey exemplifies this contrast. Elizabeth initially aimed to become a software engineer but chose public health under family influence. Although she grew to appreciate the field, it didn’t fully align with her true passion. Now, as a Public Health graduate, she works in a related role at a local charitable organization.

Dermi Liben, a third-year Health Officer student at Jimma University, shares a similar journey to Elizabeth’s. Initially, she preferred pursuing a field with a shorter academic path, but because of family pressure, she entered the health sector after passing the national exam.

Despite facing challenges, individuals in Ethiopia who follow their passions rather than giving in to family pressure often find more fulfilling careers, leading to personal happiness and increased productivity.

Here, Mintesinot Bekele, a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Gondar, faced a pivotal decision influenced by his exceptional academic performance. His grades would have allowed him to join Medicine, and his family encouraged him to do that. Despite these factors, he chose Mechanical Engineering.

Dr. Daniel Digafe, CEO and Co-Founder of Bego Sitota Charitable Organization, observes, “Unfortunately, it’s quite common for students to pursue fields that may not align with their true passions.” Dr. Daniel points out, “Families often steer their children towards traditional professions without fully considering their individual passions and abilities.” This guidance can leave students feeling disconnected from their chosen paths, impacting their professional fulfillment.

Solomon Tafesse, a Human Resource Assistant at the World Health Organization, underscores how societal pressures often guide graduates and college dropouts toward prestigious professions preferred by their parents rather than their own passions. This influence can highly affect academic performance and job prospects, as individuals may lack genuine interest and focus in their chosen fields. Financial and access barriers in countries like Ethiopia also restrict students from pursuing their desired careers, perpetuating a cycle of mismatched aspirations. During job interviews, candidates frequently reveal how parental influence steered them into studying specific fields contrary to their true aspirations, Solomon observed.

Dermi initially struggled with unfamiliar terms in anatomy and physiology, affecting her academic performance and causing personal distress. However, gaining practical experience as a health officer increased her enthusiasm. Over time, her academic performance improved, achieving good grades despite the challenges. Dermi emphasized the importance of passion and dedication in her studies, recognizing they were pivotal in achieving a higher CGPA and developing adequate skills.

Solomon notes that adhering to career paths dictated by parental expectations may undermine students’ sense of personal accountability, favoring individualism over communal responsibility. Reflecting on his journey, Mintesinot shares, “Choosing this path was my own decision, and I am pursuing it happily, striving to excel as best as I can.” He contrasts this with the potential loss of his dreams and temporary happiness in a dictated medical career, stressing the importance of pursuing passion for personal fulfillment and security, and advocating against paths that lead to dissatisfaction and blame towards others.

Solomon then highlights the significant impact of career mismatches on recruitment costs for organizations, noting, “Employees not aligned with their interests are prone to leaving companies, leading to instability and frequent job changes.” This turnover burdens companies with ongoing recruitment expenses and disrupts workflow and productivity. He emphasizes HR’s focus on staff retention to mitigate these costs, investing in employee engagement to foster commitment and reduce turnover. However, frequent job changes increase HR staffing needs and extend the gap between staff departures and new hires, further straining workflow and profitability.

In today’s competitive world, alongside career challenges, organizations heavily invest in staff well-being for optimal performance. Solomon points out that career instability can lead to long-term financial insecurity, hindering professional growth and leaving individuals uncertain in the job market. The financial impact of high turnover is significant, involving recruitment costs and reduced productivity, which leads to missed deadlines and lower work quality. This dissatisfaction often perpetuates further turnover, eroding morale, and disrupting organizational culture.

Solomon observes that young individuals pressured into careers by parental expectations may struggle to find fulfillment, affecting their overall well-being and performance. He notes a tendency to prioritize individualism over communal values, potentially attributing failures externally rather than taking personal responsibility, which can lead to career instability and dissatisfaction.

Elazabeth, reflecting on how this situation affected her career, she remarked, “There’s a lack of job satisfaction and adequate income. While I can sustain a livelihood, I’m not living my dream. This sometimes leads to less productivity.”

In Solomon’s view on what should be done, he suggests involving industry practitioners and subject matter experts to guide high school students, empowering them to make informed decisions about their future. His approach challenges parental influence positively by aligning educational paths with students’ passions, with a focus on boosting productivity and advancing national progress. Solomon emphasizes prioritizing children’s aspirations over cultural biases toward specific fields to enhance personal fulfillment and societal development. He also recommends that schools hold awareness sessions for parents and children to facilitate open discussions on career choices and balanced decision-making. Additionally, Solomon advises parents to support their children’s aspirations without imposing their own preferences, encouraging early decision-making for a satisfying life based on personal fulfillment.

Dr. Daniel outlines initiatives aligned with Solomon’s principles: “Our experience sharing program involves weekly engagement with professionals from diverse fields, encouraging students to explore beyond traditional careers like medicine or engineering, often finding new interests and mentors.” He continues, “Additionally, our character and skill program offers daily 20-minute sessions focused on developing essential character traits and practical skills crucial for today’s job market. Intensive competency-building weeks ensure students are academically and professionally prepared, empowering them to pursue careers aligned with their qualifications and passions.”

Exploring the impact of societal pressures on students entering fields they are not passionate about reveals significant implications for the job market. Graduates taking jobs that do not match their qualifications complicates labor productivity in Ethiopia. Many find themselves in roles where their academic credentials are underutilized or irrelevant, leading to lower job satisfaction and reduced overall labor productivity.

Asfaw Birhanu, a water resource and irrigation management graduate, transitioned to entrepreneurship in 2022, driven by two main factors. Firstly, he points out the lack of national awareness about his field, attributing it to hastily introduced departments without thorough study, which undermined its recognition within industries. Additionally, Asfaw highlights the absorption of his department into a broader engineering field, where specialized knowledge crucial in many sectors is overshadowed by more recognized professions, leading employers to favor professionals from related disciplines.

Reflecting on the impact of career mismatch on his own business journey, Asfaw acknowledges a lack of job satisfaction and productivity in his business. He laments spending years studying a specific field only to find himself in an unrelated job, which has been disheartening as his expertise diminishes over time, leaving him feeling undervalued and less competitive in the market. Asfaw notes a troubling trend among peers where recent graduates face a dilemma: conform to jobs unrelated to their qualifications or risk marginalization in the competitive job market. This frustration, he observes, can lead to shortcuts and unethical practices, undermining trust and integrity.

Asfaw’s experience echoes that of many graduates in Ethiopia, such as Haregewoin Berhanehiwot , a Plant Science graduate, currently finds herself working in marketing, a field completely unrelated to her degree. Her decision to take on this role stems from the challenges of finding employment in her field of expertise.

Transitioning into a role unrelated to her plant science education, Haregewoin finds it challenging and regrets not being able to utilize her expertise in a more fulfilling job. While her performance is adequate, it falls short of expectations, highlighting the broader concerns about the impacts of career misalignment on both individuals and organizations.

Solomon emphasizes that employees not aligned with a company’s values can spread discontent, reducing overall workforce commitment and leading to lower service quality. This behavior can undermine management standards and normalize underperformance. He mentions that these conditions can have long-term impacts, reducing a company’s ability to compete, limiting innovation, and damaging its reputation.

To address these challenges, Solomon suggests that organizations prioritize cultivating a positive workplace culture that fosters employee engagement and alignment with the company’s mission and values. This includes providing consistent support, recognition, and opportunities for professional growth, which are essential for maintaining a motivated and effective workforce.

The overlooked mismatch in Ethiopia’s job market, driven by societal pressures pushing people into prestigious but ill-fitting careers and graduates ending up in roles that underutilize their skills, poses significant economic hurdles. This situation reduces job satisfaction, lowers productivity, and increases turnover and HR costs for companies. It also wastes human potential, hindering innovation and economic competitiveness. These inefficiencies disrupt business operations and can hamper overall economic performance. Addressing these issues not only boosts workforce efficiency and commitment but also maximizes Ethiopia’s natural resources. Aligning education and careers with market needs can cultivate a more capable workforce, spur innovation, and enhance global competitiveness, crucial for sustainable economic growth and positioning Ethiopia prominently in the global economy. EBR

12th Year • July 2024 • No. 131