This model reveals a holistic framework of the study which emphasises on the relationship between labour market core skills requirements and soft skills competence of the university graduates in North-west, Nigeria. The arrows connected to the boxes in the model show the relationship that exists between the labour market core skills requirements and the university graduate soft skills competence. The labour market core skills requirements will be measured through classes of degrees, areas of specialisations, work-related experience and age. Also, the arrow pointed to soft skills which are communication, basic computer, analytical, entrepreneurial skill and interpersonal skills. The double arrow that connected the two boxes represents a relationship exists between labour market core skills requirements and university graduate soft skills competence. This implies that both variables influence each other.
Based on these requirements and the soft skills competence level of graduates, employers of labour determine whether university graduates are employable or not. Inference could be made on labour market core skills requirements and university graduate soft skills competence not only in the North-west but also across all the other five geo-political zones in Nigeria.
Appraisal of the Literature Reviewed
This section focuses on the appraisal of the literature reviewed in the study. The chapter reviewed relevant and related works and researches carried out by some eminent scholars and researchers on labour market core skills requirements and university graduate soft skills competence. The review is carried out under sub-headings which include theoretical framework, concept of labour demand, sources of labour demand, concept of employability, employability skills as well as relevant empirical studies. The relevant theory adopted in the study is human capital development theory. The theory is very important and relevant to the current situation of developing nations like Nigeria where demand for labour is low due to government policies and regulation, labour wage, level of the technological development among others. The theory pointed out that university graduates need to possess employability skills that will enable them to function effectively and efficiently in the world of work.
The literature reviewed suggested that labour market core skills requirements are important factors in determining entry into employment, its sustainability and progression. The level of demand in the macro economy has clear implications for the ability of individuals to find employment. Also, it has been suggested that where a person lives has an impact on employability and this can be related to education and development as well as access to social networks. The level of business confidence and degree of certainty or uncertainty about the future influence whether employers seek to recruit in the external labour market. The lower the confidence and the greater the degree of uncertainty they (employers) feel and the less they are likely to advertise vacancies. labour market core skills requirement sat local, national and international levels may have impact on the level and nature of employability skills that young people require to gain employment.
The scholars, whose works were reviewed, defined employability differently but there is a general consensus among them that the concept ‘employability’ is a wide range of attributes and competencies that enable a job seeker to gain and maintain employment such as, but not restricted to, communication skills, logical, analytical, problem-solving skills, personality, confidence, integrity, flexibility, adaptability, innovation, creativity and team spirit. This implies that employability is about gaining, sustaining and progressing in employment which encompasses more aspects of individual characteristics and qualities. A range of employability skills have been identified as qualifications, skills (of various types), values, characteristics and job-related competences. Although employability inventory would contribute to improvements in shared understanding and measurement of the concept, individual circumstances could constrain and facilitate employability.
Of great importance, also, is that employability is not an assurance of actual employment but a means of increasing the chances of becoming employed. This is against the belief that credential, knowledge and social skills alone will guarantee a good position in the labour market. With the restructuring of the nation to a knowledge-based economy, there has been a paradigm shift with more emphasis or demand for highly effective utilisation of employability skills. However, the review of empirical studies in this chapter shows that most of the researchers whose works were reviewed used descriptive research design in their studies. They also made use of questionnaires as their research instruments as well employed descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean, standard deviation among others. This therefore serves as a guide to this present study in selecting appropriate research design, instrument and statistical methods for the analysis of data.
