Empirical investigation of discipline-specific skills required for the employability of built environment graduates

As the world continues to experience significant and dynamic changes, the concept of graduate employability remains a well-discussed subject in the body of knowledge. Consequently, the concept has attracted the interest of educators, policymakers, researchers and graduates themselves. As a vital cog in the employability conversation, the quality of present-day graduates is highly dependent on the effectiveness of training received from higher education institutions. This formal training provides learners with discipline-specific skills (academic skills) and knowledge which helps them obtain a firm foundation in their chosen discipline or profession. This study seeks to unearth the various discipline-specific skills (DSS) that built-environment graduates need to possess to thrive in the labor market after graduation. A quantitative research approach was adopted to achieve this study’s objective with close-ended questionnaires developed and administered to built environment professionals based in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Retrieved data were analyzed using several statistical tools such as percentage, frequency, Mean Item Score, One-Sample T-test and Exploratory Factor Analysis. Findings revealed four clusters highlighting the key DSS required by built environment graduates. These include lifelong learning, hands-on experience, digital literacy and knowledge of the subject area. The outcomes of this study will be beneficial to several stakeholders involved in construction education and employability skills discussion.