Graduate employability: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

AbstractIn today's highly competitive job market, the employability of graduates holds paramount significance. Employers increasingly demand fundamental competencies and diverse employability skills from the current graduates. Studies have highlighted a noticeable gap between the skills employers seek and graduates’ skills upon the completion of their studies. This gap in employability skills significantly impacts graduates, impeding their prospects of securing suitable employment opportunities. The disparities in skills and knowledge have sparked a debate on graduate employability, necessitating further research in this domain. Addressing that, the current study explored research trends, directions, and opportunities related to graduate employability. A bibliometric analysis was conducted on a dataset comprising 2335 journal articles on graduate employability published between 1981 and 2023 in Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results of bibliometric analysis revealed the most influential journal articles based on their publications, citations, and significance in the intellectual network. Through content analysis, this study shed light on the subject's intellectual structure, characterized by four major thematic clusters: (1) the attribution of broader skills to career enhancement; (2) the significance of generic skills (interpersonal, problem‐solving, and communication skills); (3) the need for work‐related training and employer engagement; and (4) the need for improved curriculum design to build adequate human capital. The study concluded with a discussion of practical policy implications, limitations of study, and recommendations for future research.