Early school leavers : employability and the labour market

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative research was to explore the challenges that Early School Leavers face in their prospects in employment and what challenges, if any, are faced by employers, in the context of the current economic climate. The study is done through the employers’ perspective, as the research done through the lens of the employers is very limited. Thus the aim of this study is to shed a light on the experiences of employers rather than Early School Leavers. In order to achieve the aim of this study, nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with respondents who hailed from the service industry, mainly in the wholesale and retail sectors, as well as those in the manufacturing industry. The data collected was analysed using the thematic analysis approach (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The study found that Early School Leavers do face challenges to their prospects in employment, which include limited roles, less advantageous conditions of employment and decreased prospects of advancement. On the other hand, the study identified challenges faced by employers as well, such as a partial mismatch between the characteristics of Early School Leavers and their requirements; organisational demands including lack of human resources and skills gaps, as well as staff retention issues. Employers of this study made continuous reference to the current Maltese economic climate, as the country is currently going through an economic boom. Employers showed concern as to the preparedness of the country for future expansion and to what would happen in the event of a downturn in the economy.