Conference paper Gold Open Access 2025

Employability Skills: A Systematic Literature Review on Skills, Challenges, and Curriculum Integration in Higher Education

E3S Web of Conferences
Conference · Vol. 645 · Art. 06007
Abstract

Rapid technological developments require universities to produce graduates with employability skills according to the needs of the dynamic world of work. Unfortunately, there is a significant gap between graduate competencies and industry demands. This study systematically analyzes employability skills, the challenges of integrating them into the higher education curriculum, and strategies to bridge the gap. The PRISMA method selected 30 scientific articles from reputable databases for analysis. The results show that the most sought-after skills include communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, integrity, and adaptability, especially post-pandemic. However, the integration of these skills into the curriculum is still partial and faces challenges in measurement and implementation. Therefore, curriculum revision, innovative learning approaches, and close collaboration between education and industry are needed. This study emphasizes the importance of higher education in producing graduates who are not only academically intelligent but also have practical skills and are ready to compete in the global market. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2025.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Not provided

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Department of Home Economics, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
Fakulti Teknikal dan Vokasional, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
1 Akademik Jurnal Mahasiswa Humanis, (2024)
2 Romanova, Olga Anatolievna, Embedding employability skills into vocational education and training: What works best for students' self-evaluation and aspirations?, Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 13, 1, pp. 20-36, (2022)
3 Geng, Linna, A review of employability skills for graduates in the construction sector, Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning, 15, 7, pp. 153-170, (2025)
4 Pedoman Penyusunan
5 Miah, Md Tota, A Systematic Review of Industry 4.0 Technology on Workforce Employability and Skills: Driving Success Factors and Challenges in South Asia, Economies, 12, 2, (2024)
6 Sci Int Lahore, (2025)
7 Triyono, Mochamad Bruri, Vocational education’s growing focus on employability skills: A bibliometrics evaluation of current research, International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 12, 4, pp. 1791-1809, (2023)
8 Fajaryati, Nuryake, The employability skills needed to face the demands of work in the future: Systematic literature reviews, Open Engineering, 10, 1, pp. 595-603, (2020)
9 Hosain, Md Sajjad, Factors affecting the employability of private university graduates: an exploratory study on Bangladeshi employers, PSU Research Review, 7, 3, pp. 163-183, (2023)
10 Int J Multidiscip Dev Sci, (2025)
Quick Actions
Full Text via DOI
Citation Metrics
0
Times Cited (Scopus)

References 10
Document Identifiers