Research Questions
The following research questions are raised to guide the study:
1. what are the classes of degrees required by employers of labour from university graduates in North-west, Nigeria?
2. what are the areas of specialisations required by employers of labour from university graduates in North-west, Nigeria?
3. what are the work-related experiences required by employers of labour from university graduates in North-west, Nigeria?
4. what are the ages required by employers of labour from university graduates in North-west, Nigeria?
5. what is the competence level of university graduate communication skills in North-west, Nigeria?
6. what is the competence level of university graduate basic computer skills in North-west, Nigeria?
7. what is the competence level of university graduate analytical skills in North-west, Nigeria?
8. what is the competence level of university graduate entrepreneurial skills in North-west, Nigeria?
9. what is the competence level of university graduate interpersonal skills in North-west, Nigeria?
10. what is the relationship between labour market core skills requirements and university graduate soft skills competence in North-west, Nigeria.
Research Hypotheses
The following hypotheses are raised to guide the study:
Main Hypothesis (Ho)
Ho: There is no significant relationship between labour market core skills requirements and university graduate soft skills competence in North-west, Nigeria.
Ho1: There is no significant relationship between classes of degrees and university graduate soft skills competence in North-west, Nigeria.
Ho2: There is no significant relationship between areas of specialisations and university graduate soft skills competence in North-west, Nigeria.
Ho3: There is no significant relationship between years of work-related experiences and university graduate soft skills competence in North-west, Nigeria.
Ho4: There is no significant relationship between age demand and university graduate soft skills competence in North-west, Nigeria.
Significance of the Study
The outcome of this research would provide useful information to educational managers, employers of labour, policy makers and analysts, curriculum planners, students and academic researchers in identifying the critical factors affecting the employability of Nigerian University graduates and the nature of such effect.
The outcome of the study would help educational managers to look inward and devise series of means and strategies to produce students that would meet the required skills and knowledge of modern labour market. It would also enlighten government on how to plan for graduates in the country and to equally put the necessary machinery in place geared at repositioning the educational system to be more responsive to the needs of the society. The outcome of the study would help in identifying and adopting strategies to overcome skills shortages which will make university administrators be more responsive providers of quality education.
The finding of the study would provide an opportunity to employers of labour to know the areas of weaknesses of graduates and how to organise training programmes to address these weaknesses. The findings of the study would provide the need to develop closer synergy between employers of labour and universities administrators that would help in the production of more quality graduates and the creation of employment opportunities.
The findings of the study would help policy makers and analysts to be more concerned with the understanding of graduate employability and offer a realistic description of the factors affecting individuals’ journeys in the labour market. The outcome of the study would also assist analysts and policy makers to move towards more sustainable long-term labour market strategies by helping to identify the range of labour market factors that hinder young graduates from moving into suitable work as well as the necessary interventions and their interconnections.
The result of the study would enable curriculum planners, university senates, directorates of academic planning in Nigerian universities to revisit academic curricula of their institutions for the purposes of including those labour demand that could possibly enhance the marketability of the university graduates in a more proactive way. It is hoped that the findings of this study would charge all the Nigerian universities to reflect on the need to equip graduates with ‘deep’ intellectual capabilities and a battery of applied practical skills which would make them more ‘work-ready’.
Students may also find this study very useful as they prepare for the world of work. The findings of the study would enlighten students on the skills they are supposed to possess. A basis for further research in this area shall be created as the findings of this study might filled part of the gap in the empirical research literature for the benefit of educational researchers and reviewers.
