Individual Differences as Determinants of Graduate Employability in Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

Increasing interests on the notion of graduate employability has led to various predictors that would increase chances of employment for job seeking graduates. However, very little is known about the influence of individual determinants that may play a crucial role in enhancing their employability. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the influence of gender, age and education on graduate employability. A cross-sectional, quantitative methodological approach was undertaken to examine the relationship between demographic factors and graduate employability. Data were collected from a sample of 324 graduates in Brunei that are registered in JobCentre Brunei. This study used parametric technique (i.e., ANOVA) to analyse the data collected. The findings indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between education and graduate employability. Meanwhile, no significant link was found for the effect of gender and age on employability among graduates. These data support existing studies that found significant role of education on graduate employability; the higher educational background obtained, the stronger employability belief one has, which would have a possible ripple effect on their job search behaviour. Furthermore, the contradicting findings found for effect of gender and age also provide a novel contribution to existing literature. Specifically, this result might be due to the contextual settings of which this study is conducted. The findings reflect a labour market in which job searchers believe their employability is determined by their competences and capabilities, rather than their gender or age.

Publication
In M. Kayyali, & B. Christiansen (Eds.), Insights Into International Higher Education Leadership and the Skills Gap, 209-228

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