Scientific and Social Research, 2023, Volume 5, Issue 11
https://ojs.bbwpublisher.com/index.php/SSR
A Study on the Problems Faced by Graduates’
Employability and Strategies for Improvement
Mengke Guo*
School of Economics and Management, Beijing Polytechnic, Beijing 100102, China
*Corresponding author: Mengke Guo, [email protected]
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
(CC BY 4.0), permitting distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is cited.
Abstract: The study of employability in modern societies is important because it concerns individuals, the education
system, employers, and society. This article analyzes the employability of graduates from the perspective of soft skills,
hard skills, interpersonal skills, creativity and innovation, and leadership skills. Graduates face numerous issues and
challenges in terms of employability. Therefore, schools and educational institutions, governments, and enterprises need to
work together to enhance their competitiveness and chances of success in the workplace.
Keywords: Employability; Graduates; Strategies for improvement
Online publication: November 29, 2023
1. Introduction
The study of employability in modern societies is important because it concerns individuals, the education
system, employers, and society [1]. Firstly, the study of employability contributes to the competitiveness of
individuals, helps individuals in acquiring skills and qualities needed for career development, and helps them
find a job that meets their goals and interests. From an educational standpoint, the study of employability helps
to enhance the quality of teaching and improve educational methods, so as to ensure that students graduate
with the skills required by the labor market. From the perspective of corporates, the study of employability
helps corporations find employees with the necessary competencies, helps increase productivity and creativity,
and helps in understanding recruitment, training, and retaining of competent employees. From a societal
perspective, the study of employability has the following benefits. First, the study helps individuals find jobs
more easily, which helps to increase the employment rate, economic income, and quality of life [2]. A high
employment rate then contributes to social stability, whereas, unemployment and occupational instability will
lead to social problems such as poverty, crime, and social inequality. Besides, increased employability has
a positive impact on the national economy and improves the national competitive power. A labor force with
diversified skills meets changing market demands better and is capable of promoting innovation. In the era
of globalization, competition between countries and organizations is becoming more intense. A labor force
with strong employability can increase the competitiveness of countries and organizations. The study of
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employability can also contribute to a better understanding of the concept of sustainable development. A labor
force with relevant skills contributes to the development of a sustainable economy, society, and environment.
Hence, the importance of employability research lies in its far-reaching impact on individuals, the education
system, employers, and society. By understanding and improving employability, we can better meet the needs
of modern society and enhance economic prosperity and social stability [3-4].
The concept of employability was first proposed in 1909 [5]. Employability is defined as an individual’s
ability to get and keep a job [6]. In the CNKI database, all the journals were searched precisely by using “subject”
as the search field and “employability” as the search term. After selecting the field “Chinese core journals,”
1075 valid documents were obtained. In the Web of Science database, 8529 articles were obtained after noise
processing with “employability” as the search term and “Article” or “Review” as the document type (the cut-
off date was October 21, 2023). In general, there were many qualitative studies on employability and a few
quantitative studies on strategies to enhance employability.
2. Key concepts
Employability competencies are the set of skills, qualities, and knowledge needed for one to be employed
for a job, and these competencies can be categorized into different categories. These categories include soft
skills, hard skills, interpersonal skills, creativity and innovation, and leadership skills. Soft skills consist of
communication skills, teamwork skills, leadership skills, and problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Hard skills consist of professional knowledge, technical skills, data analytics, linguistic skills, and math and
science skills. Interpersonal skills encompass interpersonal skills, conflict resolution skills, data analytics skills,
networking skills, and social intelligence. Next, creativity and innovation, encompasses creativity, innovative
thinking, and adaptability. Lastly, leadership skills cover goal setting and planning, motivating and inspiring
teams, decision-making, and effective management. The components of employability are shown in Table
1. These categorizations of employability skills help employers to understand and assess the skills of their
employees, and also help individuals to understand their strengths and areas for development in the workplace.
By considering these skills together, individuals can better respond to the demands of the workplace and
enhance employment opportunities and career development.
Table 1. Components of employability
Category Skills Description
Communication skills Speaking, writing, and listening skills
Teamwork skills The ability to work with others
Soft skills Leadership skills The ability to lead others, motivate a team, and make decisions
Problem-solving and decision-
The ability to analyze a situation, find a solution, and make an informed decision
making skills
Professional knowledge Professional knowledge and skills related to a specific industry, field, or job
Technical skills The ability to use a specific software, tool, or technology
The ability to analyze and interpret data, to extract insights, and to develop
Data analytics
Hard skills strategies
Multilingual abilities and being able to communicate effectively in an international
Linguistic skills
work environment
Math and science skills Skills in the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc.
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Table 1. (Continued)
Category Skills Description
The ability to establish, maintain, and develop good relationships with co-workers,
Interpersonal skills
supervisors, clients, and partners
Dealing with conflicts and disputes, reaching a consensus, and maintaining
Conflict resolution skills
harmonious working relationships
Interpersonal
Data analytics skills Being able to analyze and interpret data, extract insights and formulate strategies
skills
Building and expanding a professional network in order to gain access to career
Networking skills
opportunities and support
Understanding the emotions, needs, and motivations of others in order to better
Social intelligence
coordinate and collaborate
Creativity The ability to generate new ideas, perspectives, and solutions
Creativity and The ability to think creatively when solving problems and developing new
Innovative thinking
innovation approaches
Adaptability The ability to adapt to changing environments and new technologies
Goal setting and planning Setting strategic goals and developing implementation plans
Leadership Motivating and inspiring teams Being able to inspire and guide team members to achieve a common goal
skills Decision-making Making informed decisions under pressure and being held accountable for them
Effective management Managing resources, people, and budgets to achieve organizational goals
3. Problem analysis
There are many factors that affect an individual’s employability, which is not only related to the individual
but also to the education system and society. This article analyzes the problems in the employability of newly
graduated students [7]. First, there is a gap between the education system and the needs of the job market.
Many students lack hard skills after graduation, which makes it difficult for them to find jobs related to their
specialties. Secondly, students lack work experience, which makes them less favorable when they enter the
job market. There are not enough internships and practical opportunities or students do not know how to seek
them. Moreover, while students are usually trained in academics, they lack soft skills such as communication,
teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills, which are equally important in the workplace. Fourthly,
many students lack a clear career plan and do not know what their interests and goals are or how to achieve
them. Fifthly, the high unemployment rate in certain fields and regions makes it difficult for students to find
jobs, which may be related to the lack of employment opportunities or changes in market demand. Furthermore,
rapid technological advancement is changing career demands, and students need to continually improve their
technical skills to adapt to these changes. Seventh, many students face the problem of unstable employment,
where work contracts may be temporary or part-time rather than long-term full-time employment. Eighthly,
some students face social inequalities, which may make it more difficult for them to find jobs, especially
those from low-income families. Additionally, mental health problems like anxiety and depression may affect
their employability and employment opportunities. Besides, globalization has made competition more intense
and students need to have an international outlook and intercultural communication skills. These issues and
challenges require integrated solutions, including improving the education system, providing more internship
opportunities, enhancing soft skill training, promoting career planning, and supporting mental health.
Government sectors, educational institutions, employers, and students themselves need to work together to
address these challenges to ensure that students are better equipped to enter the workplace and achieve success.
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4. Strategies
Developing and improving employability is the key to finding and keeping a job, and a variety of efforts should
be actively taken to improve one’s employability. Firstly, graduates are encouraged to attend training courses,
seminars, and workshops to improve their professional knowledge and skills and obtain relevant certifications to
increase their competitiveness in their fields. Besides, they should also utilize online resources and educational
platforms to learn new skills and knowledge and read more books and journals to stay on top of industry trends.
Thirdly, they should take part in internships or voluntary activities to gain work experience and build connections,
or they can also seek part-time jobs to add to their portfolio. Moreover, they should improve their communication,
teamwork, time management, and problem-solving skills. This can be done by participating in social events, clubs,
or volunteer work. Fifthly, they should participate in industry conferences, and seminars, and be active on social
media platforms to establish connections and communicate with their peers. Additionally, they should undergo
career counseling to clarify their career path and goals. Eighthly, they should seek different types of jobs and
projects to gain diverse work experiences, while considering opportunities in other industries to gain different
perspectives. Furthermore, they should continuously improve their communication skills by participating in speech
classes to improve oral expression skills, and learn to write quality articles or reports to improve their writing
skills. The tenth point is that they should maintain a positive attitude, build more confidence, and be more resilient
so that they can overcome challenges and difficulties. They should also demonstrate a positive work attitude in the
workplace. The next point is that they should keep abreast of industry trends to stay competitive and subscribe to
industry news and professional publications to stay up-to-date. Lastly, they should be adaptable to new situations,
flexible in responding to new challenges and opportunities, and able to adjust their career plans according to
their personal needs and the industry’s demands. In short, developing and enhancing employability is an ongoing
process that requires self-investment, self-reflection, and continuous learning. By developing hard and soft skills,
building a professional network and maintaining a positive attitude, the competitiveness and chances of success in
the workplace will increase.
The joint efforts of schools, governments, and enterprises are also needed to overcome the challenges faced
by graduates in terms of their employability. Schools and educational institutions can help students improve
their employability in multiple aspects [8]. Firstly, schools and educational institutions should offer more
career-related programs to ensure that students graduate with the necessary hard skills, while the education
system needs to align with the demands of the job market by regularly reviewing and updating the curriculum.
Besides, schools and educational institutions can provide specialized training and activities to enhance students’
soft skills, such as communication, leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills, social skills, and self-
management skills. Thirdly, schools can collaborate with enterprises to provide internships, part-time jobs and
project opportunities to help students gain practical experience. Furthermore, schools and training institutions
should provide career counseling and resources to help students clarify their career goals and plan their career
paths. The institutions should also encourage students to actively participate in career planning activities
such as career fairs and mentorship programs. Fifthly, schools should provide mental health support to help
students deal with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, and promote mental health education
and awareness to reduce the occurrence of mental health problems. Next, training for technology and digital
competencies should be strengthened to ensure that students can adapt to technological advancements, and
online lessons should be provided to help students master digital tools and techniques. As for the government,
policy support should be given to students to enhance their employability. The government can formulate
policies to encourage employers to provide training and development opportunities to help employees upgrade
their skills. Financial assistance and scholarships should also be provided to alleviate the financial burden
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of students and to ensure that they can find suitable jobs. Enterprises can also play a role in improving the
employability of graduates. Employers can provide training and development opportunities to help employees
improve their skills. Employers should also create a work environment that supports their employees’ mental
health, and encourage innovation and learning. In summary, graduates, schools and educational institutions,
government sectors, and enterprises need to work together to ensure that students are better prepared to enter
the workforce and unleash their full potential.
5. Conclusion
In this paper, we introduced the importance of studying the employability of graduates, identified the various
components of employability, and provided a detailed interpretation of these components. In the current
environment, graduates face several issues and challenges in terms of employability. Therefore, graduates,
schools and educational institutions, governments, and enterprises need to work together to enhance their
competitiveness and chances of success in the workplace.
Funding
This work was supported by the 14th Five-Year Plan for Beijing Education Science (2023), General, Research
on the Construction for Higher Vocational Students’ Employability Evaluation Model Based on Digital Twin
Technology (Grant number: CGDB23485)
Disclosure statement
The author declares no conflict of interest.
References
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[4] Tymon A, 2013, The Student Perspective on Employability. Studies in Higher Education, 38(6): 841–856.
[5] Beveridge WH, 1906, The Problem of the Unemployed. The Sociological Review, 1906(1): 323–341.
[6] Römgens I, Scoupe R, Beausaert S, 2020, Unraveling the Concept of Employability, Bringing Together Research on
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[7] Archer W, Davison J, 2008, Graduate Employability: What do Employers Think and Want. The Council for Industry
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[8] McQuaid RW, Lindsay C, 2005, The Concept of Employability. Urban Studies, 42(2): 197–219.
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