Students and Vocational Educators Perceived on the Importance Level of Employability Skills

摘要

The changing demands in today's world of work requires highly skilled employees. Increasing competition in the labor market require employees to have employability skills in addition to technical skills. Employability skills are conceptualized as the generic skills and personal attributes considered important by industry and needed by graduates in order to get job and secure employment. The purpose of the study was to explore the importance level of employability skill attributes as perceived by students and vocational educators, and examine the statistical differences between them. Purposive sampling was used to obtain the data and samples comprised 50 accounting vocational educators from Polytechnics in Indonesia and 161 vocational students from Accounting Department Bali State Polytechnic. The data was collected by self-administered questionnaires and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Students noted teamwork skills, creativity and innovation skills, and self-management skills as three generic skills that are very important in the world of work. Whereas, educators noted communication skills, self-management skills, and teamwork skills that are very important. Both students and educators perceived leadership skills with the lowest importance level. A statistically significant difference was found between students and educators in their importance level perceptions of generic skills attributes needed to enter the workforce. Both students and educators perceived honesty and work ethic as two personal attributes with the highest importance level, and personality with the lowest importance level. A statistically significant difference was found between students and educators in their importance level perceptions of personal attributes.