A higher education degree is promised to students as a golden ticket to employment — a pass that turns them into skilled, productive assets. The genuine concern is the generation of jobs by the government for students, specifically in their respective fields, and students expecting a university degree to lead straight into employment. It is a question at the heart of graduate unemployment in Pakistan. Universities provide degrees; on the other hand, do they offer skills as well?
Why a Degree Alone Is Not Enough
Employers facing a severe talent shortage of skilled workers prioritise graduates with skills along with a formal degree. According to the ManpowerGroup Global Talent Shortage Survey, a staggering 72% of employers worldwide report struggling to find the skilled talent they need. Both universities and employers have different expectations of students — but who trains them to meet both?
Sometimes universities focus on the degree, and employers search for skills. Eventually, it is only the student left with her thoughts: why is a university degree never enough to secure employment? Does the responsibility of universities end with awarding a degree only?
The Numbers Behind the Queue
The Pakistan IT Skills Survey 2025 reports that 13,350 fresh graduates of CS and IT were hired out of 72,952 graduates in member companies nationally. This means approximately 18.3% — roughly one in five graduates — found a job. The gap is due to a lack of the practical skills companies need, and of specialised, hands-on technical skills. The British Council, examining the skills mismatch in Sindh, found the same divide: a difference between the skills students possess, the skills taught in tech institutions, and the skills required by employers.
A Skills Gap Years in the Making
This gap continues to exist as Pakistan still follows ways of teaching that trace back to Thomas Babington Macaulay’s 1835 Minute on Indian Education. The focus, for example, remains on theory rather than market-driven skills. Regular updates to our curricula are still delayed, and students have barely any exposure to the latest teaching methods, which leaves them ill-equipped for modern workplaces.
Along with that, students struggle to receive sufficient practical training and internship opportunities, since meaningful experience remains elusive. Moreover, university–industry linkage in Pakistan is relatively weak. It is a collective responsibility of both sides, as universities cannot independently monitor changes in the job market.
Sharing the Responsibility
A degree alone is insufficient to prepare someone for employment; additional skills in the respective field are required. It is the responsibility of universities to update their learning methods and curricula, along with facilitating access to field-related internship opportunities. Employers must offer more structured internships and entry-level opportunities for fresh graduates. Universities must build stronger connections with industry to keep abreast of the changing job market. Lastly, higher education must focus on the balance between practical skills and theoretical knowledge — so that a degree becomes a beginning, not a ticket to the unemployment queue.
About the author: Aniqa Tarique is a student of BS English at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro. She writes on education, youth and the world of work in Pakistan.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Feature Pakistan.
