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The IUP Journal of Soft Skills

Bridging the Employability Skills Gap: A Review

Article Details

Pub. Date	: Sep, 2022
Product Name	: The IUP Journal of Soft Skills
Product Type	: Article
Product Code	: IJSS040922
Author Name	: Kirti and Ram Rattan Saini
Availability	: YES
Subject/Domain	: Management
Download Format	: PDF Format
No. of Pages	: 8

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Abstract

Companies require various attributes in addition to the technical skills of their employees. Since companies can achieve success with the help of the contribution of skilled workforce, they always try to recruit only candidates with the necessary skills. But in reality, all the skills required by the companies are not imparted by educational institutions. On an average, only 50-60% of skills are acquired by the students in higher educational institutions. On the basis of literature review, this study aims to determine the skill gap between the supply and demand of industry and highlight the significance of employability skills in the workplace. Previous research studies identified essential employability/soft skills like communication skills, decision making, problem-solving, self management, working in groups, motivation, etc.

Introduction

Human Resource Management (HRM) provides a new way of thinking about how employees should be managed as human capital. Nowadays, it is widely accepted that an employee is the most critical asset among all other resources. Personnel managers also recognize that investment in human assets is just as significant as investment in buildings, plants and machinery. To achieve success in this competitive world, organizations need to attract and retain talent (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014). Talent is a skill that enables an employee to do work more efficiently. The main aim of every industry is to hire those employees who have all the skills, attributes, knowledge and understanding relevant for the particular job. Skill refers to the expertise or ability to perform a task obtained by an individual through systematic learning, focus, experience, and continuous practice. It is the outcome of regular efforts and improvements made to gain proficiency. One requires a lot of action, hard work, dedication, willingness, time, and other resources to develop it. Employability skills are those essential talents necessary for attaining, maintaining and performing best at the workplace. Lankard (1990) defined employability skills "as including personal image, interpersonal skills, and good habits and attitude". Employability is the minimum basic or necessary skills for getting, retaining, and success at work. According to Harvey (2001), "Employability