Mauritius is grappling with a skills mismatch, where the skills available in the labour market do not meet employers' expectations. This issue extends beyond technical qualifications, with many individuals lacking essential soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Career Development Consultant Kesho Gooriah attributes this problem to students choosing their studies before considering their career opportunities.
According to Gooriah, the issue begins at a young age, when students are expected to choose subjects or future careers without fully understanding their interests, personality, and available career opportunities. He recommends reversing this approach, encouraging students to first understand themselves, explore careers, and then choose their studies. This approach involves three fundamental questions: Who am I, Which careers suit me, and Which educational pathways should I follow?
Gooriah emphasizes that career guidance should be accessible to every student, regardless of family income. He suggests that government, schools, and employers collaborate to provide subsidized career assessments, counseling, workplace visits, and mentoring. Parents should also be involved, but their role is to support informed decisions rather than impose career choices.
The Career Development Consultant highlights that career guidance is often treated as an occasional activity rather than a continuous developmental process in Mauritian schools. A structured program should provide students with the opportunity to explore their interests, personality, abilities, and motivations through career assessments, professional counseling, and exposure to different occupations.
To address the skills mismatch, employers and educational institutions must work together to bridge the qualifications-workplace gap. Employers should review salary competitiveness, job requirements, turnover, and recruitment practices before concluding that skills are unavailable. Educational institutions and businesses should jointly identify required technical and human capabilities.
Gooriah advises parents and young people to take a more informed approach to career choices. Parents should ask open-ended questions, such as "What genuinely interests you?" and "Which careers have you explored?" Young people are encouraged to start by discovering who they are, rather than choosing a degree. A career represents thousands of hours of life, and it is essential to take time to understand oneself before making a decision.
Effective career guidance can contribute to reducing skills mismatch and strengthening Mauritius' human capital. Career development is a lifelong process, benefiting students, graduates, employees seeking advancement, and professionals considering career changes.
Key points
- Students in Mauritius often choose studies without considering career opportunities, leading to a skills mismatch.
- Career guidance should be accessible to every student, regardless of family income.
- Employers and educational institutions must work together to bridge the qualifications-workplace gap.
