Employability Skills Required by Business Education Graduates for Effective Administration in the Workplace

Abstract

This study determines the employability skills required by business education graduates for effective administration in workplace situation. The research was conducted using a descriptive survey design with a sample of 260 managers of SMEs and staff of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire validated by experts while the internal consistency of the questionnaire items was ascertained through Cronbach Alpha technique which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.89. The data collected were analyzed using mean in answering the research questions while t-test analysis was employed in testing the null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that the ability to identify, recognize and define problems as well as the ability to critically analyze situations before taking decisions are employability skills required by business education graduates for effective administration in workplace situation. Based on the findings, the study recommended amongst others that institutions should give students more on-the-job training opportunities to ensure that students learn actual skills required in the workplace.