DOCTORAL CORNER
RESEARCH TITLE

Enhancing the employability of young adults from socio-economically challenged contexts

Name: Dr Erna Wilhelmina (E.W.) Gerryts
Supervisor: Professor Kobus (J.G.) Maree
Institution: University of Pretoria, South Africa
Year of Award: 2018
Qualification: PhD

ABSTRACT

The devastating unemployment rate in South-Africa has the biggest effect on young adults from socio-economically challenged backgrounds. This study used career counselling with life design principles to explore the growth capacity of unemployed young adults' career adaptability skills to enhance their employability. The study is embedded in a constructivist paradigm with elements of social constructivist and pragmatism with an interpretive stance. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were implemented, using a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test comparison group-design to explore the possible effect of the intervention. The outcomes of the study show it was possible to positively influence the career adaptability and employability skills of young adults in socio-economically disadvantaged contexts through career and employability counselling.

Keywords: employability, career adaptability, career counselling, unemployed, young adults, socio-economically challenged

The full thesis can be found at http://hdl.handle.net/2263/68014