Abstract:
The problem of youth unemployment urgently needs to be addressed if Tanzania desire to
attain significant economic and development growth has to be fulfilled. This can be achieved
through Vocational trainings that are considered as a tool for alternative education for the
majority. Regardless the efforts which have been taken. youth unemployment is still
occurring; hence the study sought to analyse factors influencing young Vocational Education
and Training graduates to initiate self-employment in Dodoma Municipality. Tanzania.
Specifically, this study sought to examine types of skills and knowledge acquired by young
VET graduates, determine the contribution of acquired skills and knowledge of young VET
graduates. to evaluate perceptions of VET graduates us well as to determine challenges faced
by VET graduates toward their self-employment activities. A cross-sectional research design
was adopted as open and closed questions were used to collect information from VET
graduates who initiated businesses. The major findings from 97% of VET graduates revealed
that vocational skills offered under VET system have helped them to initiate their selfemployments. On the perception, about 79.3% of VET graduates believe that formal skills
are considered on initiating self-employment, while 30% of VET graduates have experienced
challenges in getting capital for establishing their self-employment activities. This is the
reason as to why some VET graduates failed to initiate their employment since they have no
capital. The study concludes that vocational curriculum needs a critical review to see the
extent that conforms to the current labour market requirement. The study recommends that
the Government and NGOs should provide capital to VET graduates in terms of loans. If VET
graduates are given loans with minimal restrictions. it will be helpful 10 them to start-up their
business and hence; create their own employment.
