Analysis of Skills Needed by Unemployed Fresh Graduates in Business Administration: Evidence from Oman

Abstract

The authors consider the increasing unemployment rate for fresh graduates from business administration majors in developing countries, such as Oman. The abilities and skills students need to obtain employment after graduating from postsecondary education institutions are the subject of this study. The aim of this study was to identify the skills required by the Omani labor market as well as the employability skills gap among recent business administration graduates. The relevance of this study relies on proposing an evaluation model to assess the skills required by employers, specifically in the private sector, from fresh graduates of business schools. The authors adopted a quantitative research method to achieve the study’s objectives. The data were collected through a survey which was distributed to 101 fresh graduates from two higher education institutions. The findings reveal that soft skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork, dedication to work, a positive attitude, leadership, communication, critical thinking, negotiation, and pursuit of learning, are the most needed by graduates in all aspects. The study concluded that there is a demand for different types of soft and technical skills that are important for future jobs in the private sector. The study recommends more collaboration between universities and various stakeholders to review current academic programs and design more professional and vocational training programs. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the promotion of an entrepreneurial mindset to prepare graduates to develop creative business ideas and innovation to create their jobs.