ERIC Number: EJ1158414
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1925-0746
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Required and Possessed University Graduate Employability Skills: Perceptions of the Nigerian Employers
Adebakin, Azeez B.; Ajadi, O. Timothy; Subair, S. Tayo
World Journal of Education, v5 n2 p115-121 2015
University is a place where skilled labour is produced for societal and global consumption. This is premised on the fact that education provided at this level enhances human capital development which widens employment opportunities. However, there seems to be disparity over the skills required and those possessed by graduates from Nigerian universities. As a result, many university graduates are either underemployed or unemployed. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Using stratified and simple random sampling techniques, a total of 300 employers of labour drawn from the manufacturing, banking and finance, education, and telecommunication industries in Lagos State constituted the sample frame. A Skill Assessment Questionnaire (SKAQ) was designed to elicit information from the participants. The results obtained showed that skills required of university graduates as perceived by employers were analytic and problem solving (98%), decision-making (98.3%), risk management (96.7%), leadership (98%), information and communication (97.7%), team-work (99%), official communication (97.7%), and English proficiency and literacy skills (97%) while skills possessed by university graduates were English proficiency and literacy (58%) and information and communication skills (53%). These results showed disparity in both the employers required skills and those possessed by the university graduates. The study, therefore, recommends that Nigerian university curriculum should be revised to reflect courses that will teach the required skill by employers.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Graduates, Employers, Employment Potential, Employer Attitudes, Labor Market, Employment, Questionnaires, Statistical Analysis, Job Skills
Sciedu Press. 1120 Finch Avenue West Suite 701-309, Toronto, ON., M3J 3H7, Canada. Tel: 416-479-0028; Fax: 416-642-8548; e-mail: jct@sciedupress.com; Web site: http://www.sciedupress.com/journal/index.php/wje/index/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Nigeria (Lagos)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A