University Students’ Employability Skills Model Based on Chinese Employer Perspective

Xiaobing Zhang,Xin Zou

doi:10.4236/jhrss.2013.13005

Abstract

The employability and the employability skills of the university students in China are now being the most important capacity which the employers pay the highest attention to. The aim of this research was to identify the university students’ employability skills and college students’ employability skills framework to reinforce the employability research and the field of human resource development (HRD) in the Chinese context. From the perspective of the employers, using the methods of interview and questionnaire, this paper studied the contents of the students’ employability skills which the Chinese employers recognized and got the model of university students’ employability skills. The results showed that college student’s personal characteristics perceived by the service industry employers and the manufacture industry employers major focused on honesty, independence, self-confidence, adaptability, and enthusiasm. Basic knowledge which perceived by the service industry employers and the manufacture industry employers centralized political knowledge, and economic knowledge. Interpersonal relationship, teamwork, strain capacity, problem handling capacity, leadership, information technology software applications, and presentation skills were the abilities at present and in the next five years that both industry employers thought very important skills and abilities. The conclusions can be got that the employability skills perceived by Chinese employers whether in service industry or in manufacture industry include personal qualities, basic knowledge, skills and abilities. The employability skills framework perceived by employers at present in service industry and in manufacture industry is slightly different. On the contrary, it is surprising that the employability skills at present and in the next 5 years perceived by service industry employers or manufacture industry employers have a significant difference alternatively. Suggestions on managerial implications and future research directions are put forward respectively.

Highlights

In a knowledge economy, the development of the economy relies on the knowledge-driven, and the prosperity of the corporation and the nation depends on such as the upgrade of the knowledge, skills, ability of the labors and the entrepreneurial enthusiasm
The conclusions can be got that the employability skills perceived by Chinese employers whether in service industry or in manufacture industry include personal qualities, basic knowledge, skills and abilities
The employability skills framework perceived by employers at present in service industry and in manufacture industry is slightly different

Summary

Introduction

The development of the economy relies on the knowledge-driven, and the prosperity of the corporation and the nation depends on such as the upgrade of the knowledge, skills, ability of the labors and the entrepreneurial enthusiasm. Enterprises rely more on enhancing the employability skills [1,2,3,4] of staffs to attract, motivate and retain knowledge workers. Employees need to access to the value of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics which their current and future employers will give high attention so that they need to maintain employment and to ensure future employment. Employees’ job security is being more depending on their employment and employability skills [3,5]. Many studies suggest that employability skills are the capacity of employment [9,10,11], which can make the employees get, maintain or even get a new employment. The knowledge, skills, abilities, characteristics and behavior of the individuals are the indictors which can be quantified in the employability skills

Objectives

Results

Conclusion