Employability of University Graduates With Physical Disabilities in Ho Municipality

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to explore the employability of university graduates with physical disabilities in Ho municipality. Specifically, the study was conducted to explore the lived employment experiences of university graduates with physical disabilities, examined the challenges encountered by university graduates with physical disabilities at their workplaces and identified the measures that can be put in place to improve the working conditions for graduates with physical disabilities. For the study, a qualitative research approach focusing on the phenomenological design was used. And a purposive sampling technique was used to obtain a maximum of 10 participants. An interview guide was used for the data collection. The data from the respondents was transcribed, labeled, and interpreted thematically. The study revealed that in searching for employment, the participants were faced with challenges of moving from one workplace to another, physical abuses from some employers, personal limitations due to their disabilities and unfriendly infrastructure prevented them from entry some places of work. The study further revealed that negative working environment, infrastructure challenges, personal limitations, attitudinal barriers were problems faced at the workplace. Recommendations were made to the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations based on the findings to implement the quota system in Ghana's law to absorb more if not all persons with disabilities into the labour market especially those who have been able to complete higher education.