A Conceptual Exploration and Determinants of Graduates' Work Readiness in the Digital Age

Adegbite, W. M. (2024). Unpacking mediation and moderating effect of digital literacy and life-career knowledge in the relationship between work-integrated learning and graduate employability. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 10, Article No. 101161. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101161
Ani?i?, K. P., Mun?ar, J. G., & Šimi?, D. (2023). Generic and digital competences for employability — results of a Croatian national graduates survey. Higher Education, 86(October), 407–427. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00940-7
Baiyere, A., Salmela, H., & Tapanainen, T. (2020). Digital transformation and the new logics of business process management. European Journal of Information Systems, 29(3), 238-259. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/0960085X.2020.1718007
Baron, P., & McCormack, S. (2024). Employable me: Australian higher education and the employability agenda. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 46(3), 257-273. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2024.2344133
Behle, H. (2020). Students’ and graduates’ employability. A framework to classify and measure employability gain. Policy Reviews in Higher Education, 4(1), 105-130. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/23322969.2020.1712662
Benati, K., Lindasy, S., & Fischer, J. (2021). Applying theory in practice: views of graduating business students. Education + Training, 63(9), 1213-1224. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-07-2020-0197
Björck, V. (2021). Taking issue with how the Work-integrated Learning discourse ascribes a dualistic meaning to graduate employability. Higher Education, 82(2), 307–322. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00650-y
Brunelli, S., Sciascia, S., & Baù, M. (2023). Nonfinancial reporting in family firms: A systematic review and agenda for future research. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32. doi:10.1002/bse.3484
Chinn, D., Hieronimus, S., Kirchherr, J., & Klier, J. (2020). The future is now: Closing the skills gap in Europe’s public sector. McKinsey & Co. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com.br/
Christensen, H. B., Hail, L., & Leuz, C. (2021). Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review. Review of Accounting Studies, 26(3), 1176–1248. doi:10.1007/s11142-021-09609-5
Dou, B., Guo, S., Chang, X., & Wang, Y. (2023). Corporate digital transformation and labor structure upgrading. International Review of Financial Analysis, 90(November), Article No. 102904. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2023.102904
Ekman, P., Thilenius, P., Thompson, S., & Whitaker, J. (2020). Digital transformation of global business processes: the role of dual embeddedness. Business Process Management Journal, 26(2), 570-592. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-02-2019-0080
Faina, I., & Almeida, F. (2020). Key Competencies for Digital Transformation in Workplace. In F. Matos, V. Vairinhos, I. Salavisa, L. Edvinsson, & M. Massaro, Knowledge, People, and Digital Transformation: Approaches for a Sustainable Future (pp. 219-234). Switzerland: Springer Nature. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40390-4_14
Fisch, C., & Block, J. (2018). Six tips for your (systematic) literature review in business and management research. Management Review Quarterly, 68, 103–106. doi:doi.org/10.1007/s11301-018-0142-x
Fonseca, P., & Picoto, W. (2020). The competencies needed for digital transformation. The Online Journal of Applied Knowledge Management, 8(2), 53 - 70. doi:https://doi.org/10.36965/OJAKM.2020.8(2)53-70
Galera, G., Carini, C., Franchini, B., Tallarini, G., Signoretti, A., Bossuyt, L., . . . Baturina, D. (2022). Report on trends and challenges for work integration social enterprises (WISEs) in Europe: Current situation of skills gaps, especially in the digital area. Brussels: B-WISE Project. Retrieved from https://www.bwiseproject.eu/en/results
García-Aracil, A., Monteiro, S., & Almeida, L. S. (2021). Students’ perceptions of their preparedness for transition to work after graduation. Active Learning in Higher Education, 22, 49-62. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787418791026
García-Pérez, L., García-Garnica, M., & Olmedo-Moreno, E. M. (2021). Skills for a Working Future: How to Bring about Professional Success from the Educational Setting. Education Sciences, 11(1), 103 - 127. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11010027
Giang, N. T., Hai, P. T., Tu, N. T., & Tan, P. X. (2021). Exploring the Readiness for Digital Transformation in a Higher Education Institution towards Industrial Revolution 4.0. International Journal Engineering Pedagogy, 11(2), 4-24. doi:https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v11i2.17515
Gilbert, G., Turner, M., & Haass, O. (2022). Working up to work: Perceived employability of students commencing a project management degree. Project Leadership and Society, 3(December), Article No. 100048. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plas.2022.100048
Han, H., Shiwakoti, R. K., Jarvis, R., Mordi, C., & Botchie, D. (2023). Accounting and auditing with blockchain technology and artificial Intelligence: A literature review. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 48, 1-16. doi:10.1016/j.accinf.2022.100598
Herbert, I. P., Rothwell, A. T., Glover, J. L., & Lamber, S. A. (2020). Graduate employability, employment prospects and work-readiness in the changing field of professional work. The International Journal of Management Education, 18(2), Article No. 100378. doi:10.1016/j.ijme.2020.100378
Hetma?czyk, P. (2024). Digitalization and its impact on labour market and education. Selected aspects. Education and Information Technologies, 29(9), 11119–11134. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-12203-8
Hossain, M. M., Alam, M., Alamgir, M., & Salat, A. (2020). Factors affecting business graduates' employability–empirical evidence using partial least squares (PLS). Education + Training, 62(3), 292-310. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-12-2018-0258
Jaramillo, J. Á., Sossa, J. W., & Mendoza, G. L. (2019). Barriers to sustainability for small and medium enterprises in the framework of sustainable development—Literature review. Business Strategy and the Environment, 28(4), 512–524. doi:10.1002/bse.2261
Kalleberg, A. L. (2020). Labor Market Uncertainties and Youth Labor Force Experiences: Lessons Learned. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 688(1), 258-270. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716220913861
Kercher, K., Todd, J., Gill, C., Bennet, D., & Gepp, A. (2025). An investigation into accounting and business students’ employability beliefs. Accounting Education, 34(3), 321-344. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/09639284.2024.2332678
Kholifah, N., Nurtanto, M., Sutrisno, V. L., Majid, N. W., Subakti, H., Daryono, R. W., & Achmadi, A. (2025). Unlocking workforce readiness through digital employability skills in vocational education Graduates: A PLS-SEM analysis based on human capital Theory. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, Article No. 101625. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101625
Kova?evi?, M., Dekker, T. J., & van der Velden, R. (2024). Employability development in undergraduate programmes: how different is liberal arts education? Teaching in Higher Education, 29(8), 2184-2204. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2023.2212602
Lauder, H., & Mayhew, K. (2020). Higher education and the labour market: an introduction. Oxford Review of Education, 46(1), 1-9. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2019.1699714
Li, L. (2022). Reskilling and Upskilling the Future-ready Workforce for Industry 4.0 and Beyond. Information Systems Frontiers, 26(5), 1697–1712. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-022-10308-y
Martinussen, M., & Mulcahy, D. (2024). Working-class student-hood and ‘job-readiness’: Affective relations of class, gender and employability policy in higher education. Journal of Education Policy, 39(4), 583-601. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2023.2228755
Monteiro, S., Almeida, L., & García-Aracil, A. (2021). “It's a very different world”: work transition and employability of higher education graduates. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 11(1), 164-181. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-10-2019-0141
Mwita, K. M., Kinunda, S., Obwolo, S., & Mwilongo, N. H. (2023). Soft skills development in higher education institutions: students' perceived role of universities and students' self-initiatives in bridging the soft skills gap. International Journal of Research in Business & Social Science, 12(3), 505-513. doi:10.20525/ijrbs.v12i3.2435
Newman, M., & Gough, D. (2020). Systematic Reviews in Educational Research. In O. Zawacki-Richter, M. Kerres, S. Bedenlier, M. Bond, & K. Buntins, Systematic Reviews in Educational Research: Methodology, Perspectives and Application (pp. 3-22). Germany: Springer VS. doi:doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-27602-7_1
Ng, P. M., Chan, J. K., Wut, T. M., Lo, M. F., & Szeto, I. (2021). What makes better career opportunities for young graduates? Examining acquired employability skills in higher education institutions. Education + Training, 63(6), 852-871. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-08-2020-0231
Nie, Y., & Mastor, N. H. (2024). Accounting employability: a systematic review of skills, challenges, and initiatives. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1), Article No. 2433161. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2433161
Noor, N. N., Rodzalan, S. A., Abdullah, N. H., Saat, M. M., Othman, A., & Singh, H. (2024). Skills of future workforce: skills gap based on perspectives from academicians and industry players. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 13(2), 774-783. doi:10.11591/ijere.v13i2.25163
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., ..., & Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372. doi:doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Pandya, B., Patterson, L., & Ruhi, U. (2021). The readiness of workforce for the world of work in 2030: perceptions of university students. International Journal of Business Performance Management, 23(1-2), 54-75. doi:https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBPM.2022.119555
Peersia, K., Rappa, N. A., & Perry, L. B. (2024, August 12). A new multidimensional graduate work readiness scale: An exploratory study of its factor structure and reliability. doi:https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4886175/v1
Pereira, E. T., Vilas-Boas, M., & Rebelo, C. C. (2019). Graduates’ skills and employability: the view of students from different European countries. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 9(4), 758-774. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-10-2018-0098
Pham, L. T. (2024). Work readiness of graduates in the digital age: A literature review. HCMCOUJS-Social Sciences, 14(2), 120-128. doi:10.46223/HCMCOUJS.soci.en.14.2.2820.2024
Pham, T., Soltani, B., & Singh, J. K. (2024). Employability capitals as essential resources for employment obtainment and career sustainability of international graduates. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 48(4), 436-448. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2024.2344771
Phan, D., Yapa, P., & Nguyen, H. T. (2020). Accounting graduate readiness for work: a case study of South East Asia. Education + Training, 63(3), 392-416. doi:10.1108/ET-02-2019-0036
Polakova, M., Suleimanova, J. H., Madzík, P., Copus, L., Molnarova, I., & Polednova, J. (2023). Soft skills and their importance in the labour market under the conditions of Industry 5.0. Heliyon, 9(8), e18670. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18670
Popelo, O., Kychko, I., Tulchynska, S., Zhygalkevych, Z., & Treitiak, O. (2021). The Impact of Digitalization on the Forms Change of Employment and the Labor Market in the Context of the Information Economy Development. International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security, 21(5), 160-167. doi:https://doi.org/10.22937/IJCSNS.2021.21.5.23
Potgieter, I. L., Coetzee, M., & Ferreira, N. (2023). University Students' Digital World of Work Readiness in Relation to Their Employability Competency. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 27(April), 93-116. doi:https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi27.922
Prikshat, V., Kumar, S., & Nankervis, A. (2019). Work-readiness integrated competence model: Conceptualisation and scale development. Education + Training, 61(5), 568-589. doi:10.1108/ET-05-2018-0114
Prikshat, V., Montague, A., Connell, J., & Burgess, J. (2020). Australian graduates’ work readiness – deficiencies, causes and potential solutions. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 10(2), 369-386. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-02-2019-0025
Qin, S., Liu, Z., Wang, J., & Wu, Y. (2024). The impact of digital transformation on labour demand quantity and structure: Evidence from China. Economic Analysis and Policy, 84(December), 1452-1469. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2024.10.036
Römgens, I., Scoupe, R., & Beausaert, S. (2020). Unraveling the concept of employability, bringing together research on employability in higher education and the workplace. Studies in Higher Education, 45(12), 2588-2603. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1623770
Schneider, S., & Pilz, M. (2024). India’s labour market challenges: Employability of young workforce from the perspective of supply and demand. PROSPECTS, 54(3-4), 687–708. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-024-09691-y
Scott, F. J., Connell, P., Thomson, L. A., & Willison, D. (2019). Empowering students by enhancing their employability skills. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 43(5), 692-707. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2017.1394989
Smaldone, F., Ippolito, A., Lagger, J., & Pellicano, M. (2022). Employability skills: Profiling data scientists in the digital labour market. European Management Journal, 40(5), 671-684. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2022.05.005
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104(November 2019), 333-339. doi:doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Suarta, I. M., & Suwintana, I. K. (2021). The new framework of employability skills for digital business. Journal of Physics: Conference Series: International Conference on Technology and Vocational Teachers (ICTVT) 2020, 1833(2021), 012034. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1833/1/012034
Suarta, I. M., Suwintana, I. K., Sudiadnyani, I. G., & Sintadevi, N. P. (2024). Employability and digital technology: what skills employers want from accounting workers? Accounting Education, 33(3), 274-295. doi:10.1080/09639284.2023.2196665
Succi, C., & Canovi, M. (2020). Soft skills to enhance graduate employability: comparing students and employers’ perceptions. Studies in Higher Education, 45(9), 1834-1847. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1585420
Teng, W., Ma, C., Pahlevansharif, S., & Turner, J. J. (2019). Graduate readiness for the employment market of the 4th industrial revolution: The development of soft employability skills. Education + Training, 61(5), 590-604. doi:10.1108/ET-07-2018-0154
Tight, M. (2023). Employability: a core role of higher education? Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 28(4), 551-571. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2023.2253649
Tsiligiris, V., & Bowyer, D. (2021). Exploring the impact of 4IR on skills and personal qualities for future accountants: a proposed conceptual framework for university accounting education. Accounting Education, 30(4). doi:10.1080/09639284.2021.1938616
Tushar, H., & Sooraksa, N. (2023). Global employability skills in the 21st century workplace: A semi-systematic literature review. Heliyon, 9(11), 1-14. doi:doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21023
Twyford, E., & Dean, B. A. (2024). Inviting students to talk the talk: developing employability skills in accounting education through industry-led experiences. Accounting Education, 33(3), 296-318. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/09639284.2023.2191288
van Laar, E., van Deursen, A. J., van Dijk, J. A., & de Haan, J. (2020). Determinants of 21st-Century Skills and 21st-Century Digital Skills for Workers: A Systematic Literature Review. SAGE Open, 10(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019900176
Wimer, A., & Bohndick, C. (2023). Employability models for higher education: A systematic literature review and analysis. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 8(1), Article No. 100588. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100588
Winterton, J., & Turner, J. J. (2019). Preparing graduates for work readiness: an overview and agenda. Education + Training, 61(5), 536-551. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-03-2019-0044
Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2019). Guidance on Conducting a Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 39(1), 93-112. doi:10.1177/0739456X17723971
Zahn, E.-M., Schöbel, S., Saqr, M., & Söllner, M. (2025). Mapping soft skills and further research directions for higher education: a bibliometric approach with structural topic modelling. Studies in Higher Education, 50(6), 1055-1075. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2024.2361831
Zhao, X., & Cox, A. (2022). Chinese students’ study in the UK and employability: the views of Chinese employers, students and alumni, and UK teachers. Journal of Education and Work, 35(4), 422-440. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2022.2073339

Suarta, M., Ariana, M., Suwintana, K., & Sintadevi, N. P. R. (2025). A Conceptual Exploration and Determinants of Graduates’ Work Readiness in the Digital Age. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 14(4), 1936–1952.

Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode