For many Ghanaian and African parents, education is a promise of a better future.
Study hard. Take your exams seriously. Go to university. Give yourself opportunities we may never have had.
That advice comes from love, sacrifice and a belief in what education can make possible.
But after the lectures, exams and proud graduation photographs comes another test: finding an employer willing to give you your first chance.
What happens when a young person has followed the advice, earned the qualification and still struggles to get started?
The pressure to get that first opportunity
Reporting published on Tuesday says major retail and hospitality employers are urging the Chancellor to reduce the cost of employing young people. They argue that employment costs are restricting opportunities, including part-time work.
Their appeal concerns youth employment generally, rather than graduates alone. It is a request for government action—not a confirmed measure or an announcement of new vacancies.
For families, however, the question is immediate: where can a young person begin?
Education matters. So does a way into work.
A degree can develop knowledge, skills and confidence. For some professions, a particular qualification is essential.
But graduation does not automatically bring a job offer.
Young people also need opportunities to apply what they have learned, understand a workplace and build experience. When a first job asks for prior experience, getting started can become a challenge in itself.
That does not make education pointless. It means the journey from studying to employment needs attention too.
Parents can help without adding pressure
A young person sending applications and hearing little back may already feel disappointed.
Repeatedly asking why they have not found work can make it harder to talk openly about the search.
More useful conversations might explore which roles they are applying for, whether their CV clearly explains their skills, and what support they need.
An initial job outside their preferred profession does not have to define their whole future. Equally, someone seeking work in their field deserves encouragement while they pursue it.
University is one route. It is not every route.
Families should also make room to discuss apprenticeships and other training options alongside university.
An apprenticeship combines paid work with training towards a qualification. The government’s Find an apprenticeship service covers England and links to the separate services for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Requirements vary by opportunity.
The starting question should be what suits the young person’s interests, abilities and intended career.
Build the connection before graduation
Students can look for relevant placements, paid part-time work, careers advice and opportunities to meet employers while studying.
Community activities may also provide honest examples of teamwork, planning or responsibility. Helping organise an event, for instance, gives someone a specific experience to discuss in an application.
For those already searching, Find a job lists full-time and part-time vacancies in England, Scotland and Wales, with a link to Northern Ireland’s service.
Our community can open doors too
Ghanaian business owners and professionals can contribute by sharing genuine vacancies, mentoring young people, and explaining how to enter their industries.
Where possible, a paid placement or properly supported first role can turn advice into an opportunity.
We encourage our children to take education seriously. Helping them find a place to use that education deserves the same commitment.
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