Psychological Determinants of Graduate Employability: A Comparative Study of Business and Agriculture Students Across Pakistan

Haroon Bakari () and Imamuddin Khoso
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Imamuddin Khoso: Institute of Business Administration, University of Sindh, Jamshoro

Business & Economic Review, 2017, vol. 9, issue 4, 111-138

Abstract: Determinants of graduate employability is a point of major concern for academician, practitioners, and Governments across the globe as more than 80 percent (74 percent in Pakistan) university graduates intend to choose employment as a career right after completion of their studies. In this regard, the role of psychological resources like the Psychological Capital (PsyCap) in academic settings has been regarded as relevant and important contributor towards graduates’ outcomes but this phenomenon has received very little attention of empirical studies. This paper aims to investigate the level of PsyCap and self-perceived employability (SEP) of business and agriculture students and investigate the link between PsyCap and SEP. The data were collected from 339 graduates enrolled in bachelor, masters and PhD degree programs of agriculture and business departments of three universities of Islamabad, Punjab and Sindh. Means were compared using independent sample t-test and ANOVA, whereas, for hypothesis testing, structural equation modelling was applied using AMOS. Results indicate that no significant difference was found between business and agriculture students with regard to psychological capital and self-perceived employability as these are equally important for business and agriculture graduates. However, the graduates differed on the basis of the degree program they were enrolled in such that students of the master's degree program scored higher on the means of PsyCap and SEP. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that hope, optimism, and self-efficacy were positively and significantly related to SEP whereas, resilience was not found significant with SEP. Main implication for this study is the need for the development of students’ PsyCap during academic life to enhance employability perceptions of graduates.

Keywords: Graduate employability; psychological capital; agriculture graduates; business graduates; Pakistan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bec:imsber:v:9:y:2017:i:4:p:111-138

DOI: 10.22547/BER/9.4.6

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