Author: Kabir Hussain
Hussain, Kabir, 2025 The Mismatch Between Education and Labour Market Demands and Its Impact on Youth Unemployment in Pakistan, Flinders University, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Terms of Use: This electronic version is (or will be) made publicly available by Flinders University in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. You may use this material for uses permitted under the Copyright Act 1968. If you are the owner of any included third party copyright material and/or you believe that any material has been made available without permission of the copyright owner please contact copyright@flinders.edu.au with the details.
The dissertation examines the critical issue of a mismatch between education and labour market demands in Pakistan focusing on critical factors contributing to the problem and impacts on youth unemployment. Using qualitative secondary data analyses derived from comprehensive literature review the study identifies interconnected themes such as outdated curricula, inadequate vocational training, rapid technological advancement, limited industry academia linkage, and governance failure. Thematic analysis reveals reoccurring manifestations of mismatch- such as field of study mismatches, qualification mismatches and skill mismatches and their socio-economic impacts. The study explores that the mismatch is not only an oversight but a systematic problem that compromise the human capital utilization, creates economic and social implications. Pakistan’s education system is not aligned with the changing labour market demands. particularly in technical and digital skills. The study concludes that there is an urgent need of implementation of comprehensive multi-sectoral policy approach and reforms that integrate updated curricula, enhance industry academia linkage and good governance to bridge the gap between education and labour market demands.
Keywords: education and labour market mismatch, skill mismatch in Pakistan, education and market mismatch and unemployment in Pakistan, causes of skill mismatch in Pakistan
Subject: Environmental management thesis
Thesis type: Masters
Completed: 2025
School: College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Supervisor: Udoy Saikia