BEIRUT: Life trajectory in the 21st century is supposed to be clear cut: Study hard, go to a good university and secure a solid job upon graduation.

But while more and more young people of both sexes are excelling in education, their fate upon completing their studies has become increasingly insecure, with youth unemployment exceeding 20 percent throughout much of the Middle East.

“I’ve had a few interviews but have had no luck finding work and am starting to worry,” said Yann Feghali, who recently completed his engineering degree at the American University Beirut (AUB). “I have good grades, have done internships and extracurricular activities, but there are few positions in Lebanon and most of these are not great.”

The lack of opportunity and variety in the job market is making many young Lebanese seek opportunities overseas, even as many countries of choice, like the U.K., tighten up visa restrictions.

“Out of my close group of 10 friends, five or six are leaving Lebanon and I would say this is pretty normal,” said Layla Kabalan, a Lebanese American University, Political Science and International Affairs graduate, who will be travelling to the U.S. this summer to start a master’s as part of the Fulbright Scholarship program.

The acclaim scheme provides international students an all-expenses paid opportunity to study in the U.S., but pushes them to return to their country of origin for at least two years after graduation to facilitate skill dissemination.

However, Kabalan, who one day hopes to pursue a PhD, is unsure if she will return any time soon. “The scope to study what I want is extremely limited in Lebanon,” she said.

“The work of civil society groups, where I hope to work post-graduation, is also hindered by various structural problems in Lebanon and is not as productive as some other parts of the world,” Kabalan added.

Lebanese students tend to be in high demand by companies and international postgraduate institutions, impressed by their general fluency in languages and high education levels, considered some of the best in the region.

“My firm came to AUB for the first time last year because they were looking for multicultural candidates,” said Lara Hajj, an AUB electrical and computer engineering graduate, who landed herself a much coveted role at London-based investment bank, Nomura.

“Nomura is sponsoring my visa certificate and as the firm is well established, it’s been relatively easy, but I know others have difficulties.”

The vital link between universities and industry, however, is not universal, and is also being blamed for the lack of suitable employment options.

“I wish that the Lebanese University would take better care of their students and offer a proper sense of career orientation and introduction to the job market,” said Elie Kawkabani, a recent LU biochemistry graduate, who is awaiting scholarship funding for an engineering Masters in France.

“All my friends have no idea where to head and what to do. That’s why most of them are pursuing their master’s right away because at that level the student numbers are smaller and the university can take better care of the students, like help them get internships.”

The latest publicly released studies, carried out by the Lebanese Emigration Research Center, show almost 60 percent of graduates are looking to leave, although it is uncertain how many will ultimately succeed in doing so.

Exact numbers are hard to come by as embassies will not reveal visa application details, but estimates put the number of graduates leaving Lebanon in 2011 at up to 20,000.

Hopeful emigrants are largely aged 23-45 and come from Lebanon’s various sects, tending to set sail for the Gulf, U.S. or Europe, in search of higher wages, more job selection and a sense of stability.

“I had three options; stay here, go to the Gulf, or move to Europe and study,” said Bernard Batrouni, a mechanical engineering student, graduating from AUB this month.

“Some of my friends are looking for work here but none have found any. Besides, most of the jobs offer a very low salary, which compared to my tuition is not very good.”

With Lebanon’s leading universities charging up to $7,600 a term for a pharmacology degree and in excess of $24,000 a year for medicine, the pay back upon graduation is relatively small, even for those that find work.

Despite high economic growth in recent years – averaging in excess of 5 percent per annum – Lebanon has not escaped employment crisis, which is expected to widen this year, as the economy takes a hit due to the ongoing political upheaval in the country and the Arab world.

“There are options in the Gulf, but the lifestyle is not for me,” said Batrouni, who will be starting a master’s in finance at Milan’s prestigious Bocconi University in August.

“Europe is much more attractive, even though their job market is still in crisis. I still hope with my master’s I will eventually get access to the London financial scene. After all the student fees I will have to pay, there is no other option.”

Concern about “brain drain” which sees well-educated people leaving in pursuit of better offers abroad is nothing new. The Lebanese have for decades, if not centuries, gone overseas in search of new markets, with the Lebanese diaspora estimated at between 12 and 14 million, more than three times the number of Lebanon’s current population.

For the most part, emigration helps ease the employment burden and benefits the economy by providing remittances, which according to the World Bank, added $8.2 billion to the Lebanese economy in 2010.

The sword, however, is undoubtedly double edged. Brain drain is also limiting the pool of skilled workers who can fill the nation’s medical, engineering, financial and other professional fields.

“There is not very much scope in Lebanon for people with my degree,” said Kawkabani, who aspires to work in the scientific research.

“The only jobs sadly seem to be in sales. This is not what I want to do. It would be a waste of my degree.”

But even those that leave can help build up the economy and several successful schemes have been set up to combat the brain drain epidemic.

A U.N. Development Program project, TOKEN, operating since 2006, has brought back over 60 experts a year to advise government institutions on key issues, such as health standards.

“Most of the expatriates we approach are extremely enthusiastic and happy to provide assistance,” said TOKEN project manager, Ariane Saad. “They do this on a totally voluntary basis, with no financial incentives,” she added.

Their work, however, is only temporary and is also being hindered by the political vacuum, which has left Lebanon without a functioning government since Jan. 12. “The political stalemate has halted the number of missions [this year], and the lowered absorption capacity of the ministries has impeded progress,” said Saad.