Barriers to Career Progression of Black African Middle Managers: The South African Perspective

The primary objective of this research is to assess the perceptions of black African middle managers on barriers to career progression. While a number of studies have investigated barriers to career progression among previously disadvantaged individuals, no study has focused on the perceptions of middle managers on the barriers to career progression amongst black Africans in the workplace. The study was qualitative in nature, employing a purposive sampling approach. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews amongst 18 black African middle managers in two major South African banks. Results indicate that a lack of exposure to senior managerial duties, lack of career guidance and support, demographic composition of senior management, as well as perceived unequal career opportunities present barriers to career progression. The value of the research lies in the practical changes banks can make to Human Resource practices and policies to overcome current challenges. The paper is of value to managers and HR professionals in the banking sector by addressing a major South African labour market issue.