Investigating Graduate Youth Unemployment in Puntland: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

Globally, youth unemployment is a serious problem that affects political stability and socioeconomic growth. In Puntland, a semi-autonomous area in northeastern Somalia, this study investigates the problem of graduate youth unemployment, concentrating on its causes, effects, and possible solutions. Many Puntland graduates have significant obstacles in finding work, despite greater access to education and increasing participation in postsecondary institutions. This underscores a serious mismatch between the demands of the labor market and educational attainment. Beyond just personal difficulties, unemployment has a negative impact on the economy, productivity, social inequity, and political instability. This study uses a mixed-methods approach to collect data from 582 respondents, including stakeholders, policymakers, and graduates. The main causes of unemployment, according to the findings, are a lack of job prospects, a mismatch in skills, unstable economic conditions, and a lack of work experience. The study emphasizes the detrimental effects that unemployment has on graduates' social, mental, and financial well-being; many of them think about leaving their home country in search of better prospects. Addressing graduate youth unemployment in Puntland requires complete policy reforms, educational enhancements, and strategic investments in job-creating sectors. Among the suggestions are matching educational programs to industry demands, encouraging career services, encouraging entrepreneurship, and supporting vocational training. To foster an environment that is conducive to long-term economic growth and the generation of jobs, cooperation between government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector is essential. The objective of this research is to enhance policy discussions and stimulate practical approaches to mitigate graduate joblessness, hence promoting Puntland's sustainable growth