Human Resource Utilization: Employers’ Preference between Polytechnic and University Graduates in the Financial Sector of the Nigerian Economy

Abstract

This study investigated the manpower demand for university and polytechnic graduates in Nigerian banking industry. A descriptive research survey was adopted and simple random sampling technique was used for the study. Three research hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance using t-test and correlation statistical tools. Data were collected using self-constructed questionnaire on manpower demand for university and polytechnic graduate in the banking industry (QFMDFUAPG) to obtain information on the demand for university and polytechnic graduates, employee's qualification and employer's preference between polytechnic and university graduates in the banking industry. Two hundred (200) copies of the questionnaire were administered to Human Resource Managers of fifty banks in Lagos State to obtain information on their demand for University and Polytechnic graduates, employee's qualification and employer's preference of workers. The results of (he findings revealed that: (i) There is significant difference between the demand for university and polytechnic graduates. (ii) There is no significant relationship between employee's qualification and job allocation. (iii)There is no significant relationship between skills acquired by employee's and employer's preference for polytechnic or university graduates. It was therefore,
recommended that the disparity between the demand for university and polytechnic graduates should be addressed to give a level playing ground for both university and polytechnic graduates competing for employment in Nigerian banking industry.

Keywords: Human Resource utilization, Employer's preference, Graduates, Manpower, Banking industry, financial sector