Bridging the Employability Gap Among Recent University Graduates in Tunisia: Mitigating Mismatch Between Acquired Skills and Real Labor Market Needs

Abstract

Our aim is to highlight on the mismatch between acquired skills and the real needs of the Tunisian labor market, while discussing the case study of experience of Higher Institute of Technological Studies of Kef (ISET Kef), in terms of improving the employability rate of its students according to real needs in the north-west of country. Within the framework of this study, we have opted for a descriptive approach based on data obtained through two surveys carried out by ISET Kef, in January 2022.  A survey was conducted among 100 graduates, at least one year after graduation. A second field survey was carried out with 13 industrial and agricultural companies based in the Kef governorate, to understand which skills really need to be developed during university studies. The employability rate of ISET Kef’s graduates is declining from one year to the next. The main factors determining the “employability gap” among recent university graduates include poor coordination between the higher educational institutions and employers, absence of quality training programs, low entrepreneurial and innovative opportunities, as well as underinvestment in research and development.