Structural determinants of students’ employability: Influence of career guidance activities

Abstract

At a time of continuous economic uncertainty and a highly competitive labour market, it is crucial for undergraduates to be more pro-active about their future careers. This study investigates the structural influence of career guidance activities on university students’ employability in Nigeria. Data was collected from 600 final-year undergraduates from four universities in the South-West geopolitical zone, with the use of an adapted questionnaire. The quantitative data were subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to ensure factorial validity of the research instrument, and subsequently structural equation modelling (SEM). SEM was performed by means of Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS Graphics, version 24) in testing the DOTS model in Nigeria. Results confirm the positive influence of career guidance activities on students’ employability. On the dimensions of career guidance activities, self-awareness and opportunity awareness have the greatest influence on students’ employability, followed by decision-making skills, and then transition learning skills. To enhance undergraduates’ employability upon graduation, universities should strengthen their efforts in developing app-ropriate strategies so as to engage undergraduates with the four dimensions of career guidance activities depicted in the DOTS model.

Keywords: career guidance activities; decision learning; employability; Nigeria; opportunity awareness; self-awareness; structural equation modelling; transition learning; undergraduates