Abstract
is a substantial concern in South Africa, characterised by complex socio-economic, psychosocial, emotional, and mental health challenges often overlooked in statistical analyses. Moreover, graduate unemployment has also emerged as a crucial concern within the broader context of unemployment in South Africa. Consequently, there is a growing need for a subjective voice to understand the intricacies of how graduates experience and cope with unemployment. Therefore, this study explores the unemployment experiences and coping among South African graduates through semi-structured interviews with ten participants between the ages of 21 and 35 who have been unemployed for at least one year. The study utilised Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis to explore and highlight graduates’ unemployment experience and coping. Participants discussed the challenges of unemployment, particularly the lack of work experience and the reduced demand for certain skills. Additionally, participants emphasised how unemployment diminished their social status, affecting their sense of self. Overall, the findings showed the complex nature of their unemployment experience, consisting of emotional rollercoaster marked by fluctuating high and low emotions due to the absence of, or negative feedback on, job applications. In response to this distress, participants utilise coping strategies, some of which are productive and assist in managing their mental health. The Latent Deprivation Theory was used to explain and understand these responses to unemployment, as it suggests that unemployed individuals experience deprivation of both latent and manifest benefits of employment, leading to negative effects on their psychological well-being. This study highlights potential avenues for future research, including the effectiveness of obtaining working experience through internship and integrating support post-qualification and during job search.
Keywords: coping, graduates, qualitative, South Africa, thematic analysis, unemployment, unemployed, youth