Perceived Challenges of Vocational Schooling Graduates Transition to Business Occupation

Using a cross-sectional survey research design, the study examines the challenges faced by TVET graduates transitioning to the workforce at Arba Minch, Awassa, and Akaki TVET polytechnic colleges, with the goal of producing middle-level human capital. The author selected 312 participants via a self-created survey questionnaire and random selection, with 81% correctly completing and returning the questionnaires. The study utilized descriptive statistics to rank perceived mean scores and inferential statistics to analyze gender differences in TVET graduates' views on transition issues to occupations. The study examined the main challenges Ethiopian TVET graduates encounter to access jobs, such as inflation, corruption, limited foreign exchange, inefficient government red tape, and a lack of job-creation potential. The survey also found that TVET graduates mostly blamed government bureaucracy (t = -2.8, df = 250, p < 0.01) and administrative instability (t = -2.3, df = 249, p = 0.02) for perceived gender disparity challenges in small business acumen at the α = 0.05. The main challenges faced by TVET graduates in starting their own firms are macro- and microeconomic issues, rather than work ethics, public health, or inadequate training. Both male and female participants face similar challenges despite bureaucratic and unstable governance.