Received: 1 August 2024 | Revised: 11 November 2024 | Accepted: 13 January 2025 | Published online: 6 February 2025

International Journal of Changes in Education

RESEARCH ARTICLE 2025, Vol. 00(00) 1–8
DOI: 10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024010

Employability Skills in IT Sector: What

Matters Most for Graduate Success?
Ashish Kumar Awadhiya1,*
1
Centre for Online Education, Indira Gandhi National Open University, India

Abstract: Graduate employability skills are very important for getting entry-level jobs and succeeding in the career. Employers need
employees to possess 21st-century skills and personal traits that are transferrable and required in all job profiles. The IT sector of India
is expanding exponentially and requires a high number of job-ready graduates. However, literature indicates a lack of awareness among
graduates on importance of employability skills. Students are searching for the job with a different mindset from what employers are
expecting. This descriptive research studied the perceptions of IT graduates on the importance of employability skills to get entry-level
jobs using the online survey method. The research reveals that with an average mean value of 4.6, learners were aware of the
importance of employability skills for attaining entry-level jobs. However, the learners were unclear about the terminologies used for
employability skills. The results confirm the latest trends in employability skills among Indian graduates. The study suggests that there is
a need to revisit these skills at regular intervals in consultation with the industry to get the contemporary trends. Industry, academia, and
policymakers should work collaboratively towards creating a clear picture of relevant employability skills among the learners to bring
the learners at par with the industry requirements.
Keywords: employability skills, IT graduate, 21st-century skills, employers, IT jobs

1. Introduction however, the same may not be required for the graduates being
hired for graduates being recruited for accounting. Similarly,
Employability is a commonly and critically used term in the decision-making skills, creative thinking, and team skills may not
field of higher education and in the industry. Graduate be very much relevant for the sale-related profile; however, the
employability is a key parameter for the credibility and ranking of same skills may be more prevalent for database administrator and
any higher education institute including distance education institutes. IT security. Therefore, it is important that program-specific
Employability skills have been defined as set of personal employability skills need to be identified [4].
attributes that are required for the fresh graduates to get employed Many employers and industry are of view that basic
and sustain the job. These skills are required across the sector and employability skills are more important for them since they have
industry [1]. These skills are also termed as soft skills, their own mechanisms to train their recruits in the technical
transferable skills, generic skills, essential skills, employability skills. Employers are demanding that their employees to have
skills, and they include set of skills such as communication skills, 21st-century skills and personal traits which are transferrable and
problem-solving skills, time management, teamwork, work needed in all kind of job profiles. Interestingly, the millennials
planning and prioritization, leadership skills, etc. Various studies have also acknowledged this requirement of the recruiters and
[2, 3] have studied employability skills and have explained planning their CV accordingly [5].
employability term as essential and transferable core proficiencies With reference to industrial growth, most of the countries in the
needed by the applicant to enter into the job and successfully world have gone through an evolution phase starting from
sustain in an organization. Employability skills include personal agricultural economy followed by industrial economy and then
proficiencies, transferable basic skills, technical knowledge, and landing towards service-based economy. However, India has
formal educational credentials. somewhat different story and it has somewhat bypassed the
However, not all these skills are required for all the disciplines industrial economy, and it has directly moved from agricultural
and all the industry sectors. There is very much probability that the economy to service economy. The major contributor to this shift
type of skills and their level of importance may vary for different is the IT industry. IT industry has grown in the country since 80s,
disciplines, country, locality, nature of job positions with the and IT professionals in India were in high demand across the
employers, and type of employer. For example, communication industrial countries. Many Indian small start-up companies in the
skills and teamwork may be highly required for graduates being early phase IT industry have grown into very big organizations
hired for marketing jobs and customer service professionals; with global presence.
Information Technology (IT) industry in India has been
performing tremendously with around 7.7 percent contribution to
*Corresponding author: Ashish Kumar Awadhiya, Centre for Online Education,
Indira Gandhi National Open University, India. Email: akawadhiya@ignou.ac.in its GDP during the financial year 2019 (expected to increase up to

© The Author(s) 2025. Published by BON VIEW PUBLISHING PTE. LTD. This is an open access article under the CC BY License (https://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by/4.0/).

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International Journal of Changes in Education Vol. 00 Iss. 00 2025

10% by 2025) while providing employment to 4.1 million youth. IT entry-level positions. Most of these studies concluded that
industry has shown steady progress in India with around 191 billion employers are not satisfied with the skills of learners coming out
US dollar during the financial year 2020, and it is estimated to grow from Higher Education Institutions, and they face difficulties in
at the rate of 7.7 percent thereby increasing the industry value to US$ finding graduates with employability skills [3, 11, 12]. This trend
350 billion by 2025. India is aiming to become the global is global and has been observed across all the sectors including IT
manufacturing hub and largest supplier of the skilled manpower. sector in India [13–15]. It is pertinent to mention that the problems
India has also established remarkable global image in the field of of graduate employability skill mismatch are similar in other parts
service industry, Business Process Outsourcing, Business Process of the world [16, 17] including developed countries from Europe,
Management, and Knowledge Process Outsourcing. Specifically, Australia [18] and developing countries like India [1] and
IT industry in India has been performing tremendously with Bangladesh [19]. The employability gap, in Indian context, is a
around 7.7 percent contribution to its GDP during financial year major challenge for almost all the sectors and is more pronounced
2019 (expected to increase up to 10% by 2025) while providing in the fast-paced IT sector, despite its impressive growth [20].
employment to 4.1 million youth [6–8]. Various research studies are available which have studied the
Considering the expected growth of IT industry in India, there employability skills of learners and concluded that there is a
will be huge demand for IT professionals in India starting from fresh mismatch in the employability skills among the learners and
IT graduates to experienced ones. COVID-19 scenario has also industry requirements. Learners have demonstrated difference of
emerged as a game changer in IT industry because every business opinion with reference to importance of employability skills from
and every aspect of life is now compelled to integrate IT services that of employers. There is a significant difference among the
into their business processes. Remote working, shift working, opinion of employer and learner regarding the importance of
cloud computing, out-sourcing, online meetings, online trainings, employability skills [7, 21–23]. Educational institutions are now
e-commerce, etc., have become new norms in the today’s world. actively incorporating the component of employability skills in
All these new digital interventions are going to transform the their curriculum and program delivery methods in direct and
Indian socio-economic scenario and significantly increase indirect forms. Education institutions are also inculcating the
employment opportunities for IT graduates and the trend to be awareness of importance of employability skills among their
continued in future. Although the number of jobs is going to be students.
higher, getting these jobs is going to be very tough because these The professional career of any graduate will benefit from
jobs would require a higher level of skills and competencies. undertesting, developing, practicing, and implementing soft skills
Employers prefer to hire the graduates, who are interested, in their personal and professional endeavors. Most of the studies
passionate, and have a clear sense of purpose, according to recent indicate that learners, especially the new learners (millennials), are
trends. As a result, it is critical for applicants to stand out from aware of the importance of employability skills in their career
the throng by incorporating distinctive skill sets into their besides core domain knowledge, and this awareness is most
resumes. Learners need to be more mindful towards their skills to among during the final year of graduation. Learners are
gain the employment and sustain in their jobs. Companies are proactively practicing to develop and foster employability among
going to recruit and retain graduates with a diverse set of abilities themselves through various methods. However, learners should be
in today’s ever-changing business climate. While specialization in informed about which skills have to be developed and up to what
specific domains is going to be an added advantage, graduates extent, so as to attain the entry-level jobs in their chosen career.
seeking employment will need to enhance their soft skills, such as The information about right skills to be developed will help the
analytical skills, creativity, persuasion, and emotional intelligence, learners to be career-ready and will help them to meet employers’
in order to remain relevant in job. Therefore, employability skills expectations pertaining to employability skills [19, 24–26].
are much needed in IT industry [9, 10]. The major confusion in job search is that the students are
Around half of the Indian workforce is constituted by searching for the job in different mindset from what the
millennials (youth between 18 and 35 years). This millennial employers are expecting [27]. There is a difference of opinion
regiment has immense potential to lead the Indian economy to its between employers and the learners in terms of importance of the
full potential. With 600 million youth under 25 years of age, this employability skills.
millennial cohort is projected to be part of India’s workforce until Facts like the high demand for IT graduates in India and the
the next decade, and they need to be trained adequately to explore importance of employability skills among these graduates instigate
their full potential. This rethinking on skilling, reskilling, and exploring the level of awareness among these graduates. Global
upskilling becomes more pertinent when India is envisaging to literature suggesting the existence of employability mismatch
become 5 trillion economy by 2025. A major part of these [1, 12, 17] also necessitates understanding this trend in Indian
millennials is going to contribute towards IT-related jobs since context in general and among IT graduates in particular [13].
almost all the industry sectors and organizations are adopting IT Generic/ transferable employability skills such as
in various domains. Empowering IT graduates with relevant communication skills, teamwork, planning and managing skills,
employability skills will directly boost the productivity of the IT and problem-solving skills are very much required across all
sector which will result in the growth of the Indian economy. industries. However, the IT sector also demands specific technical
Various research are available which have investigated the competencies, such as coding proficiency, knowledge of software
employability skills of the newly graduates from employers mostly development tools, IT security, and project management, and
using surveys. These studies have sought information from these transferable skills add value to perform these technical skills
employers for specific skill sets required while hiring for more efficiently. There is a need to identify the importance of

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International Journal of Changes in Education Vol. 00 Iss. 00 2025

these key employability skills tailored specifically to the needs of the Accordingly, BCA students of IGNOU, enrolled in the final
IT industry among IT graduates. year (total 1811 students), were considered constituted as the
Considering this the research was conducted to study the population of this study. The survey instrument was sent to all
perceptions of the IT graduates on the importance of various the 1811 learners using census sampling. Sending the
employability skills to get entry-level jobs. questionnaire to all the learners provides equal opportunity to
every individual to participate in the survey. The questionnaire
2. Research Methodology was sent via email using Google Forms. A total of 398 learners
responded to the online survey. The questionnaire aimed to
This article is an extract of an exploratory research study collect the learners’ perception (on a five-point scale) related to
which was conducted in two phases. This descriptive research the level of importance of listed eight employability skills
adopted a mixed-method approach. The phase one adopted (Communication Skills, Problem-Solving Skills, Decision-
qualitative approach and identified the prevalent job profiles, Making Skills, Critical Thinking and Innovative Skills,
IT-specific indicators for employability skills, and desired skills Teamwork, Professionalism and Ethical Behavior, Self-
for fresh IT graduates. This was done through document analysis Management, Planning and Managing Skills) in the job market
and job site analysis. During phase one, eight key employ- for attaining the entry-level employment. The questionnaire also
ability skills (Communication Skills, Problem-Solving Skills, contained an open-ended question to provide any other skill
Decision-Making Skills, Critical Thinking and Innovative Skills, deemed necessary to get a job in the IT sector. Accordingly, the
Teamwork, Professionalism and Ethical Behavior, Self- questionnaire consisted of total 46 items for the respondents.
Management, and Planning and Managing Skills) and the Quantitative data received were analyzed through descriptive
relevant constructs to demonstrate these skills for Indian IT statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed through qualitative
graduates were identified [4]. tabulation and word cloud.
This article pertains to Phase II where these eight employability
skills were then presented to the IT graduates for providing their 3. Results and Discussion
perceived level of importance. This phase included collection of
the data from the learners using an online survey instrument. The In this questionnaire, the learners were asked to provide their
survey instrument has undergone content validity (through expert perception of “Importance Level” of the eight employability skills
review), item analysis (using pilot testing), and reliability testing for getting entry-level jobs in IT field using Likert scale. The
(through Cronbach’s Alpha). Likert scale criterion was under five categories: 1 = “Not at All
The mismatch of skills between industry and learners is deeper Important”, 2 = “Less Important”, 3 = “Not Sure”, 4 =
in the IT sector [1, 16, 28]. The Bachelor of Computer Application “Important”, and 5 = “Very Important”.
(BCA) of IGNOU is an employment and skill-oriented program, and The following table (Table 1) provides perceived level of
such kinds of programs are more popular in metro cities like importance of each employability skill by the respondents in terms
Delhi-NCR. of mean value (M).

Table 1
Importance level of employability skills for getting entry-level jobs in IT field
Sr. No. Employability skills Very IMP IMP Not sure Less IMP Not at all IMP Total Mean SD

1. Communication Skills N 258 131 3 6 0 398 4.6 0.6

% 64.8 32.9 0.8 1.5 0 100
2. Problem-solving Skills N 293 102 2 1 0 293 4.7 0.5
% 73.6 25.6 0.5 0.3 0 100
3. Decision-making Skills N 241 147 7 3 0 241 4.6 0.6
% 60.6 36.9 1.8 0.8 0 100
4. Critical Thinking and N 234 145 15 4 0 398 4.5 0.6
Innovative Skills % 58.8 36.4 3.8 1.0 0 100
5. Teamwork N 246 137 12 3 0 398 4.6 0.6
% 61.8 34.4 3.0 0.8 0 100
6. Professionalism and N 202 172 17 7 0 398 4.4 0.7
Ethical Behavior % 50.8 43.2 4.3 1.8 0 100
7. Self-Management N 197 180 14 7 0 398 4.4 0.6
% 49.5 45.2 3.5 1.8 0 100
8. Planning and Managing Skills N 251 138 5 4 0 398 4.6 0.6
% 63.1 34.7 1.3 1.0 0 100
9. Overall Importance N 240.3 144.0 9.4 4.4 0 398 4.6 0.6
% 60.4 36.2 2.4 1.1 0 100
Data from the above table (Table 1) are described below:

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International Journal of Changes in Education Vol. 00 Iss. 00 2025

3.1. Communication skills Accordingly, it is observed that a total of 96.2% of learners have
considered the teamwork skills as very important or important
A total of 64.8% of respondents have rated the importance level thereby generating the M as 4.6.
of the communication skills as “Very Important”. A total of 32.9% of
respondents have indicated communication skills as “Important”. 3.6. Professionalism and ethical behavior
However, a total of 1.5% of respondents rated it as “Less
Important” and 0.8% of respondents have selected the category The importance level of professionalism and ethical behavior
“Not Sure”. No respondent has selected the category “Not at All skill has been rated “Very Important” by 50.8% of respondents. A
Important” for communication skills. total of 43.2% of respondents have indicated this skill as
Accordingly, it is observed that a total of 97.7% of learners have “Important”. A total of 4.3% of respondents have selected the
considered the communication skills as very important or important importance level of this skill as “Not Sure” followed by 1.8% of
thereby generating the M as 4.6. respondents, who mentioned this skill as “Less Important”. No
respondent has selected the category “Not at All Important” for
3.2. Problem-solving skills this skill.
Accordingly, it is observed that a total of 84% of learners have
The importance level of the problem-solving skills has been considered the professionalism and ethical behavior skills as very
rated “Very Important” by 73.6% of respondents. A total of important or important thereby generating the M as 4.4.
25.6% of respondents have indicated problem-solving skills as
“Important”. However, a total of 0.5% of respondents are “Not 3.7. Self-management
Sure” about the importance level of problem-solving skills
followed by 03% of respondents for whom this skill is “Less The importance level of the self-management skills has been
Important”. No respondent has rated this skill as “Not at All rated as “Very Important” by maximum of 49.5% of respondents.
Important”. A total of 45.2% of respondents have indicated this skill as
Accordingly, it is observed that a total of 99.2% of learners have “Important”. A total of 3.5% of respondents are “Not Sure” about
considered the problem-solving skills as very important or important the importance level of self-management skills. However, 1.8% of
thereby generating the M as 4.7. respondents rated it as “Less Important”. No respondent has
selected the category “Not at All Important”.
3.3. Decision-making skills Accordingly, it is observed that a total of 94.7% of learners have
considered the self-management skills as very important or important
The importance level of the decision-making skills has been thereby generating the M as 4.4.
rated as “Very Important” by maximum of 60.6% of respondents.
A total of 36.9% of respondents have indicated this skill as 3.8. Planning and managing skills
“Important”. A total of 1.8% of respondents are “Not Sure” about
the importance level of decision-making skills. However, 0.8% of The importance level of the planning and managing skills has
respondents rated it as “Less Important”. No respondent has been rated as “Very Important” by maximum of 63.1% of
selected the category “Not at All Important”. respondents. A total of 34.7% of respondents have indicated this
Accordingly, it is observed that a total of 97.7% of learners have skill as “Important”. A total of 1.3% of respondents are “Not
considered the decision-making skills as very important or important Sure” about the importance level of planning and managing skills.
thereby generating the M as 4.6. However, 1% of respondents rated it as “Less Important”. No
respondent has selected the category “Not at All Important”.
3.4. Critical thinking and innovative skills Accordingly, it is observed that a total of 97.8% of learners have
considered the planning and managing skills as very important or
The importance level of the critical thinking and innovative important thereby generating the M as 4.6.
skills have been rated as “Very Important” by maximum of 58.8% The overall importance level for all the skills has been
of respondents. A total of 36.4% of respondents have indicated calculated by averaging the values of each skill. Accordingly, the
this skill as “Important”. A total of 3.8% of respondents are “Not table describes that an average of 60.4% of respondents have
Sure” about the importance level of critical thinking and rated all eight skills as “Very Important”. Average 36.2% of
innovative skills. However, 1% of respondents rated it as “Less respondents have rated all eight skills as “Important”. An average
Important”. No respondent has selected the category “Not at All of 2.4% of respondents are “Not Sure” about the importance level
Important” for this skill. for all eight skills. However, 1.1% of respondents rated all eight
Accordingly, it is observed that a total of 95.2% of learners have skills as “Less Important”. No respondent has selected the
considered the critical thinking and innovative skills as very category “Not at All Important”
important or important thereby generating the M as 4.4. Accordingly, it is observed that average of 96.6% of learners
have considered these eight skills as very important or important
3.5. Teamwork thereby generating the average M as 4.6. Accordingly, it is
evident from this discussion that learners have given considerable
The importance level of the teamwork skill has been rated importance to all the employability skills presented to them.
“Very Important” by 61.8% of respondents. A total of 34.4% of The reason behind this increased awareness may be due to
respondents have indicated teamwork skills as “Important”. A various sensitization program conducted by academia and
total of 3% of respondents are “Not Sure” about the importance policymakers. The government of India has come up with various
level of teamwork skill. However, 0.8% of respondents rated it as policies and guidelines related to skill development, and these
“Less Important”. No respondent has selected the category “Not at results indicate the outcome of such activities. The National
All Important” for this skill. Education Policy 2020 elaborated on disseminating the basic

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International Journal of Changes in Education Vol. 00 Iss. 00 2025

employability skills to learners for their overall development and As per the table (Table 2) above, the Mean values of all the
career growth. Based on this University, Grant Commission [29] employability skills range from a minimum 4.4 to a maximum 4.7
of India has also introduced a document titled as “Curriculum and as perceived by the learners. This indicates that learners consider
Guidelines for Life Skills (Jeevan Kaushal) 2.0” which aims to these skills very important for them to get entry-level jobs in IT field.
sensitize the learners about importance of employability skills The table denotes that the learners have rated problem-solving
which have been studied in this research. Apart from this, the skills as most important skill (M = 4.7) for them to have to attain
documents also narrate about Universal Human Values like Love entry-level jobs in IT field. Learners have given equal importance
and Compassion (Prem and Karuna), Truth (Satya), Non-Violence to Communication Skills, Planning and Managing Skills,
(Ahimsa), Righteousness (Dharma), Peace (Shanti), Service Decision-Making Skills, and Teamwork skills with equal M
(Seva), Renunciation (Sacrifice) Tyaga and Constitutional Values, (M = 4.6) to get entry-level jobs in the IT field. However, learners
Justice, and Human Rights originating from Indian Value System. have given comparatively less importance to Critical Thinking and
Innovative Skills (M = 4.5), Professionalism and Ethical Behavior
3.9. Ranking of employability skills by learners (M = 4.4), and Self-Management skills (M = 4.4) to get entry-
level jobs in IT field.
Based on the M of the importance level of employability skills The results on the importance level of various employability
perceived by the learners, the ranking of employability skills has skills from the BCA learners of IGNOU indicate that learners are
been generated. The following table (Table 2) depicts the ranking aware of the importance of these employability skills to attain
of the employability by learners as per their Mean Score (M). entry-level jobs.

3.10. Other skills suggested by learners

Table 2 Learners were provided additional space to provide their
Ranking of employability skills by learners as per the mean value feedback on importance of employability skills as well as any
Ranking Employability skills Mean SD other important employability they feel deemed necessary.
Accordingly, learners have suggested the many employability
1. Problem-solving Skills 4.7 0.5
skills and personality traits, which they feel are important to attain
2. Communication Skills 4.6 0.6
entry-level jobs for IT professionals. Based on the analysis of
3. Planning and Managing Skills 4.6 0.6
the employability skills and personality traits mentioned by the
4. Decision-Making Skills 4.6 0.6
respondents, it was found that most of these traits fall under
5. Teamwork 4.6 0.6
the eight skills identified in this research.
6. Critical Thinking and Innovative Skills 4.5 0.6
The categorization of the employability skills and personality
7. Professionalism and Ethical Behavior 4.4 0.7
traits mentioned by the respondents is demonstrated in the table
8. Self-Management 4.4 0.6
(Table 3) below:

Table 3
Categorization of employability skills and personality traits mentioned by the respondents
Sr.
No. Employability skills Important employability skills and personality traits mentioned by the learners
1. Communication Skills Presentation skill, convincing skill, the way to talk, human behavior, pleasant behavior, listening skills,
quick response, public speaking, expressing his views, communicating on social media, awareness of
your facial expressions and body language
2. Problem-solving Skills Confidence, ability to work under pressure, optimistic, proactive skill,
3. Decision-making Skills Accountability, analytical thinking, logical,
4. Critical Thinking and Creative thinker, creativity, innovated by mind, patience, out-of-the box thinking, recognize adversity
Innovative Skills and turn it into opportunity, open mind, and a willingness to embrace new ideas, open mindset, open
to new ideas and experiences
5. Teamwork Teamwork, cooperate with your team members, always cheer up the team, volunteering to help
coworkers, sharing and caring, working well with other people, reliable, keep my colleague
motivated, friendly and loyal, key player of the team
6. Professionalism and Ethical Giving your best to the company, hard work, honesty, business engagement skills, give our best,
Behavior dedication toward work, committed towards his company, pleasing the boss, loyal
7. Self-Management Quick learner, good learner, attitude building, learn quickly, determination to learn, passion, self-
improvement, mindset to always learn and grow with every step, positive behavior, mental and
physical health, adaptability, motivation, consistency, self-confidence, willpower, always looking to
improve my skills and knowledge
8. Planning and Managing Time management, complete work before deadline, strictly follow your commitments, multi-tasking if
Skills required, finding shortcuts for time-saving job, working speed, smart working, punctuality, routine
management skills, punctual, being practical, leadership skills, meeting or exceeding your expected
levels of work performance, creating schedules for your daily tasks, timesaver

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International Journal of Changes in Education Vol. 00 Iss. 00 2025

Figure 1
Employability skills suggested by learners in the word cloud

The above content analysis indicated that the learners know in alignment with other studies [26] which have concluded that
about the importance of employability skills, and they are also learners, especially the new learners (millennials), are aware of the
aware about the employability skills and personal traits needed by importance of employability skills in their career, besides core
the current job market, and these findings are in harmony with domain knowledge, and this awareness is most among during the
recent researches [19, 26, 30] which are reaching on the similar final year of graduation.
conclusions. This qualitative data are also supporting the Learners have given more importance to most of the skills
quantitative results obtained in this research. however comparatively less weightage to Critical Thinking and
However, the content analysis also suggests that learners are not Innovative Skills, Professionalism and Ethical Behavior, and Self-
very clear about the terminologies and employability traits since they Management needs to be taken care of as employers give
are reiterating various constructs of employability skills already significant importance to these skills.
identified in the research in different terms. The possible reason Graduate employability skills should not be generalized. These
behind this may be inadequate training by their educational need to be identified in global context in general and in local context
institutes; unavailability of program-specific employability skills in particular, so as to train the learners in specific employability skills
[4]; lack of clear information about employers [1]; and existence needed by the employers. There is a need to revisit these skills on
of ambiguity in the area of employability skills itself [31, 32]. regular interval in consultation with the industry requirements.
Various employability skills and terms suggested by the This will help in mitigating the employability skill gaps. The
learners were pooled in a word cloud generator and the following process of identifying these current trends of employments should
figure was generated: be an ongoing activity. This process should always involve all the
The above Figure 1 provides a glimpse of the words used by stakeholders, i.e., academia, industry, and learners.
the learners while providing additional important employability Higher education sector is under huge pressure to inculcate
skills. In light of the content analysis and word cloud, it is relevant employability skills among graduates to bridge the
evident that learners exhibit some ambiguity regarding mismatch. These institutes are actively engaged sensitizing the
terminologies and employability traits, and they demonstrate graduates for importance of employability skills resulting in
awareness about various constructs related to employability positive outcomes and can be seen in the results of this study.
skills, albeit using different terminology than what has already Higher education needs to change their customary approach of
been identified in existing research. curriculum transactions to teach academic skills. They need to be
more responsive towards disseminating employability skills
4. Conclusion and Recommendations among learners. Experts from the industry should be actively
engaged in planning and implementing curriculum delivery.
The results of this research reveal that learners are aware of the Employers should establish “Employment Helpdesk” to help
importance of employability skills for attaining an entry-level job the prospective candidates on their requirements of employability
after graduation, sustaining the job, and growing in the career. skills and academic skills. The help desk should provide very
Although the learners were not very clear about the terminologies precise information to the education institutes and the graduates
used for employability skills, they were aware of the importance about their requirements.
of employability skills needed by the employers. In the 21st century, dynamic and service-based economy like
In contrary to existing research findings which indicate that India, IT sector is a significant contributor. Proactive approaches
learners are not informed about the importance of the in developing employability skills among graduates will result in
employability skills, the results of this research indicate that job-ready and competent graduates resulting in exponential
learners are proactive in this area and they have considerable growth in the economy. Industry, academia, and policymakers
levels of understanding in this area. However, these findings are should work towards creating the clear picture of relevant

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International Journal of Changes in Education Vol. 00 Iss. 00 2025

employability skills among the learners to bring the learners at par in Business, IT and Education, 5(1), 232–243. https://doi.
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with higher education. It should be studied in a localized and [10] Mustapa, N. A., Salleh, R. M., Ashman, N. A., Saidi, M. I., &
specialized context. Accordingly, this study was limited to final- Rahim, N. S. A. (2022). Covid-19: Employer demand from
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ijarbss/v12-i8/14480
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subjects performed by the author. gap between the employer’s expectations and skills possessed
by employees. Industrial and Commercial Training, 49(4),
Conflicts of Interest 175–182. https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT-11-2016-0071
The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest to this [12] Succi, C., & Canovi, M. (2020). Soft skills to enhance graduate
work. employability: Comparing students and employers’
perceptions. Studies in Higher Education, 45(9), 1834–1847.
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