Vol-7 Issue-6 2021 IJARIIE-ISSN(O)-2395-4396

SKILLS POSSESSED BY MECHANICAL

TECHNOLOGY GRADUATES FOR
EMPLOYABILITY IN MECHINE-SHOP
AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY IN RIVERS
STATE
Dr. Hillary Wordu1; Nnodim, Kingdom Alabeke2 & Orikoha, Ekwueme3
123
Department of Vocational & Technology Education
Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

ABSTRACT
The study assessed the Employability skills of Mechanical Technology Graduates in Automobile Industry in Rivers
State. Two (2) objectives, two (2) research questions and one (1) hypotheses guided the study.The study adopted
descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was 28 lecturers in Technical Education in College
of Education, Port-Harcourt and 74 technicians in the five automobile industries in Rivers State. There was no
sampling due to the small population of the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaire designed in 5-
point Likart rating scale. The instrument was face and content validated by experts in Rivers State University. A
reliability coefficient of 0.82 was obtained using Cronbach Alpha. The research questions were analyzed using
mean and standard deviation while z-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study
revealed that the ability to performing phase angle test accurately, ability to install sensors in the engine
management system, helps to improve graduates in automobile industry in Rivers State. Based on the findings, the
study recommended that Government should strictly organize training and re-training programmes for Lecturers
and Technicians on modern trends of technological advancement on Perception of Employability Skills in Rivers
State. By this, new technologies and new techniques can be achieved, Government should build a multi capacity
workshop strictly for teaching and learning of industrial perspectives on employability skills for automated/manual
cars for entrepreneurial development of Rivers youths to reduce the level of unemployment in the State.

KEYWORDS: Skills, Mechanical Technology, Automobile Industries, Machine-shop, Employability

INTRODUCTION
The issue of graduate employability has been a source of major concern all over the world as to whether our
educational institutions are meeting the need for their establishment. Employability of graduates to a large extent
determines the functionality and viability of a school program. Unemployment has been identified as one of the
major challenges of the 21st century and
Nigeria as a nation is not spared by the scourge of unemployment. In most developing countries like Nigeria,
governments and policy makers are increasingly finding it difficult to deal successfully with the problem of
unemployment. Among other things, this high level of unemployment can be attributed to lack of relevant
marketable skills that will make them employable in industries or related organizations as well as self-employment
(Audu, Kamin & Balash, 2013).
Employability skills denote essential competencies needed for worker success on the job (Carnevale, Gainer, &
Meltzer, 2000). Overtoom (2000) further defines employability skills as “transferable core skill groups that represent

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essential functional and enabling knowledge, skills, and attitudes required by the 21st century workplace”. Examples
of employability skills include communication, teamwork, problem solving, and work ethic. The graduates of all
levels of higher institutions are no exemption. As a result, students who graduate from technical institutions acquire
little knowledge and practical skills that would enable them, on graduation to practice what was learnt in school,
create jobs for themselves and participate in economic development (Okafor, 2011).
Over a decade ago, De la Harpe (2000) identified a worldwide concern that undergraduate programs do not produce
graduates with the kind of lifelong learning and professional skills needed for workplace success. Numerous
research studies continue to highlight a skills gap between the demands of employers and the level of workforce
preparedness of university graduates. Despite current high unemployment rates, employers continually report their
inability to find qualified workers (Weitmen, 2010). Fenster (2005) paradoxically asks, “How can we have too few
jobs for our workers and yet have too few workers for our jobs?”. This gap directly impacts the stability of human
capital development within Nigeria.

According to Cranmer (2014) skill is an ability and capacity acquired through deliberate, systematic and sustained
effort to smoothly and adaptively carryout complex activities or job functions involving ideas (cognitive skill) things
(technical skills) and/or people (interpersonal skills). Technical skills are skills expertise or technical competence
related to the field of the worker, whether engineering or technical (Medina, 2011). Today’s workplace requires
highly skilled professionals prepared to meet the challenges of increased global competition. Bailey (2000) describes
the current workplace as one in which jobs integrate through cross-functional teams, workers receive more
responsibility, employees solve non-routine problems, organizations emphasize continuous improvement, and
workers understand their jobs within broader organizational purpose and context. Therefore, organizations need
professionals responsive and flexible enough to navigate economical, social, cultural, technical and environmental
change (Precision, 2007). Meeting the need requires more than technical skills. Research findings identify
employability skills as a possible solution.
According to Evers, Rush and Berdow (2008) “the skills most in demand are least in supply”. ‘‘University with their
heads full of theories, principles, and information but are often ill-equipped to deal with aspects of the workplace
such as problem-solving, decision-making, working in a team, and learning for themselves”. Simyilarly, Brown,
Hesketh, and Williams (2003) state that a consistent cry exists among employers that college graduates lack
adequate preparation for the workforce. This cry reverberates across multiple industries including manufacturing.

In a 2003 study investigating workforce issues in manufacturing, the National Association of Manufacturing (NAM)
and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) found more than 80% of manufacturers surveyed reported a
“moderate to serious” shortage of qualified job applicants (NAM, 2003). The study highlights a mismatch between
the competencies employers expect of employees and the competencies employees possess. As a follow-up study,
The Skills Gap Report (2005) reveals an increasing need for an appropriately prepared workforce to help maintain
Nigerian‟ manufacturing companies‟ competitiveness in the global marketplace.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Both national and local studies indicate that graduates of Automobile manufacturing-related degree programs may
not be adequately prepared to meet workforce demands. Employers believe that higher education does not
adequately develop employability skills of graduates in general (Houghton & Proscio, 2001; Martin, Milne-Home,
Barrett, Spalding, & Jones 2000; Robinson, 2006). A consistent mismatch exists between what employers expect of
graduates and what graduates entering organizations are prepared to offer. The skills gap impacts productivity levels
and the ability of organizations to meet customer demands (Cebesi, 2003). Consequently, it is very necessary to call
upon higher education to improve the students during their course of study to improve their employability skills of
the workforce. This call presents an opportunity to determine the degree to which Automobile manufacturing-related
degree programs focus on developing graduates‟ employability skills. It is base on these needed employability skills
for training, that Skills Possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for Employability in machine-shop
Automobile Industries in Rivers State which prompted this study. The problem of this study therefore posed as a
question is what are the Skills Possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for Employability in machine-shop
Automobile Industries in Rivers State?

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PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to assess the skills possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for employability
in machine-shop Automobile Industries in Rivers State. Specifically, the study sought to:
1. Assess the Diagnostic skills possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for employability in machine-
shop Automobile Industries in Rivers State.
2. Determine the Problem-solving skills possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for employability in
machine-shop Automobile Industries in Rivers State.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were posed

1. What are the Diagnostic skills possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for employability in
machine-shop Automobile Industries in Rivers State?
2. What are the Problem-solving skills possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for employability in
machine-shop Automobile Industries in Rivers State?

HYPOTHESES

The following null hypotheses guided the study and tested at 0.05 level of significance.
1. There is no significant difference in the mean responses of lecturers and Technicians on skills possessed by
Mechanical Technology Graduates for employability in machine-shop Automobile Industries in Rivers
State.

METHODOLOGY

The study adopted descriptive survey design. The study was carried out in Rivers State. The population of this study
comprised 102 respondents. (28 lecturers in Technical Education in College of Education (Technical) Omoku,
Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port-Harcourt and Rivers State University and 74 Technicians in the five
automobile industries in Rivers State). (Source: Office of Heads of Departments in the Concerned Institutions,
2013). There was no sampling considering the small and manageable size of population. Therefore, the entire
population of the study was used. The instrument used for data collection was survey questionnaire titled
“Employability skills of Mechanical Technology Graduates on Machine-shop Automobile Industries”
(SPMTGEMAI). It was structured in the pattern of 5 point Likert rating scale of Strongly Agree (SA-5), Agree (A-
4), Undecided (U-3), Disagree (D-2) and Strongly Disagreed (SD-1). The instrument was face and content validated
by three experts in Faculty of Education. The reliability of the instrument was 0.82 obtained using Cronbach Alpha
Reliability Coefficient Method. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (Mean and Standard
Deviation) to answer the research questions while inferential statistics (Z-test) was use to test hypothesis at 0.05
level of significance. The decision on the answered research questions was based on the cutoff point of 3.00,
meaning any mean value equal or above 3.00 was considered a positive response. Also for the hypotheses tested,
when z-calculated is equal or greater than z-critical, hypothesis was rejected, otherwise accepted.

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RESULTS
Research Question 1: What are the Diagnostic skills possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for
employability in machine-shop Automobile Industries in Rivers State

Table 1: Mean Responses and standard deviation on Diagnostic skills possessed by Mechanical Technology
Graduates for employability in machine-shop Automobile Industries in Rivers State.
Lecturers N28 Technicians N74
S/N Staff and Students’ Perception X SD Decision X SD Decision
1 Ability to performing phase angle test 3.45 1.43 Agreed 3.85 1.39 Agreed
accurately
2 Ability to install sensors in the engine 3.42 1.47 Agreed 4.15 0.96 Agreed
management system
3 Identify screw extruder and its various 3.54 1.32 Agreed 4.12 0.33 Agreed
features
4 Ability to Detect and replace default parts 3.63 1.38 Agreed 4.69 0.74 Agreed
detected
5 Ability to Detect problems on water 3.21 1.50 Agreed 4.79 0.44 Agreed
cooling systems
6 Ability to Detect problem in engine 4.60 0.49 Agreed 4.15 0.86 Agreed
7 Ability to Attach mixing zones 4.00 1.22 Agreed 4.28 0.76 Agreed
8 Ability to read and analyzed diagnostic 4.57 0.50 Agreed 4.96 0.19 Agreed
machine
9 Ability to Perform trouble shooting after 3.69 1.68 Agreed 4.00 1.19 Agreed
diagnose
10 Ability to Check and tight ensuring the 4.03 1.38 Agreed 4.06 0.82 Agreed
nuts and bolts are in order
11 Ability to Detect and Carry out a careful 4.48 0.50 Agreed 4.58 0.65 Agreed
visual inspection of the wiring electrical
components
12 Ability to operate the engine 4.18 0.95 Agreed 4.34 0.55 Agreed
Grand Mean 3.90 1.15 4.33 0.68
Source: Field Survey, 2021.
The findings in Table 1 revealed that the ability to performing phase angle test accurately (3.45 & 3.85), ability to
install sensors in the engine management system (3.42 & 4.15), identify screw extruder and its various features (3.54
& 4.12), ability to Detect and replace default parts detected (3.63 & 4.69), ability to Detect problems on water
cooling systems (3.21 & 4.79), ability to Detect problem in engine(4.60 & 4.15), ability to Identify the on-board
diagnostic port in vehicles (4.00 & 4.28), ability to read and analyzed diagnostic machine (4.57 & 4.96), ability to
Attach mixing zones (3.69 & 4.00), ability to Check and tight ensuring the nuts and bolts are in order (4.03 & 4.06),
ability to Detect and Carry out a careful visual inspection of the wiring electrical components(4.48 & 4.58), ability
to operate the engine (4.18 & 4.34). Table 1 equally revealed that a ground mean of 3.90 and 4.33 and a ground
standard deviation of 1.15 and 0.68 respectively which implies that the respondents were close in their opinions.

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Research Question 2: What are the Problem-solving skills possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for
employability in machine-shop Automobile Industries in Rivers State

Table 2: Mean Responses and standard deviation on Problem-solving skills possessed by Mechanical
Technology Graduates for employability in machine-shop Automobile Industries in Rivers State
Lecturers N28 Technicians N74
S/N Staff and Students’ Perception X SD Decision X SD Decision
1 Operation processes on industrial machine 3.55 1.43 Agreed 3.65 1.39 Agreed
2 Operate spray up methods 3.45 1.47 Agreed 4.05 0.96 Agreed
3 Operate hand-lay-up process 3.44 1.32 Agreed 4.20 0.33 Agreed
4 Operate hot gas welding machine 3.50 1.38 Agreed 4.30 0.74 Agreed
5 Clamp pipes between two metal plates 3.54 1.50 Agreed 4.32 0.44 Agreed
6 Handle the heated tool (knife or rod) 4.50 0.49 Agreed 4.35 0.86 Agreed
7 Operate the induction or electric welding 4.10 1.22 Agreed 4.18 0.76 Agreed
8 Operate the infrared welding machine 4.45 0.50 Agreed 4.12 0.19 Agreed
9 Drive screws into a thread in the metal 3.59 1.68 Agreed 4.00 1.19 Agreed
component using a scre w driver.
10 Clean the surfaces to be joined 4.02 1.38 Agreed 4.04 0.82 Agreed
Grand Mean 3.81 1.23 Agreed 4.12 0.68 Agreed
Source: Field Survey, 2021.
The findings in Table 1 revealed that the Operate perform process on industrial machine with (3.55 & 3.65),
Operate spray up methods (3.45 & 4.05), Operate hand-lay-up process (3.44 & 4.20), Operate hot gas welding
machine (3.50 & 4.30), Clamp pipes between two metal plates (3.54 & 4.32), Handle the heated tool (knife or rod)
(4.50 & 4.35), Operate the induction or electric welding (4.10 & 4.18), Operate the infrared welding machine (4.45
& 4.12), Drive screws into a thread in the metal component using a screw driver (3.59 & 4.00) and Clean the
surfaces to be joined (4.02 & 4.04). Table 2 equally revealed that a ground mean of 3.81 and 4.12 and a ground
standard deviation of 1.23 and 0.68 respectively which implies that the respondents were close in their opinions.

HYPOTHESES

The following results of the null hypotheses were tested.

Hypothesis 1:There is no significant difference in the mean responses of lecturers and

Technicians on Skills Possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for
Employability in Machine-Shop Automobile Industries in Rivers State

Table 1: z-Test Analysis on the Skills Possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for Employability in
Machine-Shop Automobile Industries in Rivers State

Groups N Mean SD df Z-cal Z-crit α Decision

Lecturers 28 3.90 1.15

100 2.45 1.96 0.05 Rejected

Technicians 74 4.33 0.68

Source: Field Survey, 2021.

From the analysis in the Table 1, the result showed that the z-cal is greater than the z-crit. Hence the hypothesis was
rejected. This is an indication that there is a significant difference in the opinion of respondents in the institutions
(Lecturers) and the (Technicians) in industries on their perception on employability skills for mechanical technology
graduates on machine-shop automobile industries in Rivers State.

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

Diagnostic skills possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for employability in machine-shop

Automobile Industries in Rivers State.

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The findings in research question one revealed that the Employability skills are considered important student
outcomes that every mechanical technology graduate must be able to learn and possess upon leaving the academic
institutions for them to overcome the challenges of stiff competition when it comes to job placement. This study also
revealed how mechanical technology students viewed these skills as still needed for development to become job
ready. Differences exist in the employability skills development needs in terms of ability to performing phase angle
test accurately, ability to install sensors in the engine management system, identify screw extruder and its various
features, ability to detect and replace default parts detected , ability to detect problems on water cooling systems,
ability to detect problem in engine, ability to identify the on-board diagnostic port in vehicles, ability to read and
analyzed diagnostic machine. This is an indication that there is a significant difference in the opinion of respondents
in the institutions (Lecturers) and the (Technicians) in industries on their perception on employability skills for
mechanical technology graduates on machine-shop automobile industries. The findings of this study agreed with
Osswald, Baur, Brinkmann, Oberbach and Schmachtenberg (2006) who identified technical work-skills in
compounding of raw plastic materials to involve three stages which include: premixing, gelatin or melt
compounding and granulation or cutting of scraps.

Problem-solving skills possessed by Mechanical Technology Graduates for employability in machine-shop

Automobile Industries in Rivers State.

In addition, the findings on table two of this study revealed that mechanical technology graduates and the
teachers/Instructors rated all the 10 items on skills possessed by mechanical technology students is in agreement
with that of Okwelle, Beako & Ajie (2017) that skill is an ability and capacity acquired through deliberate,
systematic and sustained effort to smoothly and adaptively carry out complex activities or job functions involving
ideas. Therefore, Operate perform process on industrial machine with, Operate spray up methods, Operate hand-
lay-up process, Operate hot gas welding machine, Clamp pipes between two metal plates, Handle the heated tool
(knife or rod), Operate the induction or electric welding, Operate the infrared welding machine, Drive screws into a
thread in the metal component using a screw driver and Clean the surfaces to be joined respectively which also
implies that the respondents were close in their opinions among others.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the finding of this study, the findings in research question one revealed that the Employability skills are
considered important student outcomes that every mechanical technology graduate must be able to learn and possess
upon leaving the academic institutions for them to overcome the challenges of stiff competition when it comes to job
placement. This study also revealed how mechanical technology students viewed these skills as still needed for
development to become job ready. Differences exist in the employability skills development needs in terms of
ability to performing phase angle test accurately, ability to install sensors in the engine management system. The
aim of passing through the college are defeated, since they lack some of these skills. The study also conclude that an
average Technician can Operate perform process on industrial machine, Operate spray up methods, Operate hand-
lay-up process, Operate hot gas welding machine. Finally it was concluded that all problems surrounding the
Technicians has tuned to be an issue and problem to the automobile industries in Rivers State.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made:

1. Government should strictly organize training and re-training programmes for Lecturers and Technicians on
modern trends of technological advancement on Perception of Employability Skills in Rivers State. By this,
new technologies and new techniques can be achieved.
2. Government should build a multi capacity workshop strictly for teaching and learning of industrial
perspectives on employability skills for automated/manual cars for entrepreneurial development of Rivers
youths to reduce the level of unemployment in the State.

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Wodi, S., & Dokubo, A. (2012). Innovation & Change in Technical and Vocational Education in Nigeria:
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