THERE is no doubt that education in Jamaica has improved over the last 50 years. We have expanded from one to several tertiary institutions and increased investment in and contribution to the early childhood sector.

However, even for those who are able to complete tertiary education, unemployment is a real force to be reckon with, so much so that even the well-educated are unable to find opportunities for socio-economic advancement.

Current published data indicates that despite the prevailing volatile economic conditions, there was a slight decrease of the total unemployment rate from January 2010 to January 2011.

Nonetheless, many university graduates with useful degrees are being forced to take jobs for which they are overqualified, settle for positions that are not in their desired fields, and accept pay cheques that are below their actual earning potential. It’s not because they necessarily want to, but because they don’t have much choice.

For some, settling is necessary to repay student loans. With the high interest rates these loans bring, it is of utmost importance that they find decent jobs that can help to unhinge them from the necessary evils that are their debts.

The cost of living is also extremely high for a graduate who has to finance said loans as well as housing and basic amenities on his/her own since not many have the luxury of living with and being financed by parents. We acknowledge that life comes with challenges, but many graduates went to college or university in the hope of gaining meaningful employment that can afford them a comfortable standard of living and without that, it sometimes makes you wonder what’s the point of the years of tutelage.

In addition to the cost of living, the competitive job market also frustrates the graduate, as not only is he/she competing for limited jobs with batch mates, but also with those who have been on waiting lists for years.

Challenges aside however, it is wise to look for the good in every situation. The reality is that the job market will not change overnight; a surplus of opportunities won’t be created all at once. However, if one realises that many of those who are successful charted their own career path by opening the doors of entrepreneurism, it should serve as a glimmer of motivation for others. Opening and operating one’s own business will not only serve the interest of the single graduate, but other graduates in the future and over time, the country as a whole.

So what if your first job is not in your field of study? That should not deter you from continuing to pursue your ambition. Every job can be seen as a piece of the career puzzle which requires patience and determination.

It is also important to note that the grass is not always greener on the other side and a land of opportunity may only be a figment of your imagination. If you carefully think about your future and plan accordingly, you should achieve your career goals and combat the destructive effects of unemployment.