Employability skills constructs as job performance predictors for Malaysian polytechnic graduates: A qualitative study

Abstract

The acquisition of employability skills that match and fit the employers’ requirement would enhance employees’job performance. This study explored and factorized the constructs and dimensions of employability skills whichcan predict the job performance of Malaysian electric and electronic polytechnic graduates in the electrical andelectronics industry. A qualitative approach was used in the development of the research Employability Skills WorkPerformance Prediction (ESWPP) constructs and dimensions starting from relevant document analysis and expertinterviews. The ESWPP constructs and dimensions were then validated by content experts from academicinstitutions. Finally, the findings were analyzed using the Fleiss Kappa reliability analysis to determine the overallapproval index for each of the ESWPP constructs and dimensions. Results of the analysis revealed an overall Kappacoefficient value of 0.989 which indicated a very good level of agreement . The ESWPP constructs and dimensionswhich were found to be job performance predictors were communication skills, personal qualities, teamwork skills,critical thinking and problem solving skills, technology skills, organizational skills, and continuously learning skills.Keywords: Electric and Electronic Polytechnic graduates, employability skills, ESWPP constructs, Fleiss KappaReliability, job roles, qualitative approach