Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Jeffery Y. Harlow

Abstract

A number of educated women has increased over the years, leading to more women participating in the labor market and contributing to social and economic development. Despite the increase in number of women with Master’s level (MA, MSc, MPhil, MBA) education, there remains challenges in the employment of women into professional positions compared to men. This study sought to examine the job search experiences of postgraduate women at the professional level to understand the challenges and difficulties they encounter, thereby contributing to policy formulation and implementation to address this phenomenon. The theoretical foundation for this study was the feminist theory, which focuses on women’s inclusion, employment, empowerment, and equality. The research question examined the job search experiences of postgraduate women aged 25 to 45 years seeking professional employment in Accra, Ghana. A qualitative approach was adopted, and purposive sampling and snowballing methods were used to identify and interview 10 postgraduate women. Data were collected through interviews, which lasted 15 to 45 minutes for one to two participants daily within 4 weeks. Phone-in interviews were used to capture data through audio-recordings, and memos and field notes were taken to identify patterns and themes of issues for coding, data interpretation, and analysis. Key results of the study include creating flexible working hours for women to support family roles and commitments, equal employment opportunities and more inclusion of women in employment. The study will contribute to academic studies and can inform employers, human resource managers, counsellors, and support policy formulation to reduce bottlenecks and increase professional employment for women.

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