Factors Influencing Young Vocational Education and Training Graduates to Initiate Self-Employment in Dodoma City, Tanzania

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.