Perceived employability in Bangladesh: The role of human capital, social capital and technological skills / Nusrat Jafrin

Nusrat , Jafrin (2024) Perceived employability in Bangladesh: The role of human capital, social capital and technological skills / Nusrat Jafrin. PhD thesis, Universiti Malaya.

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Abstract

The prevailing trajectory of graduate unemployment in Bangladesh poses a significant challenge for higher education institutions and the government. The unemployment rate among graduates surpasses that of less educated youth, highlighting the urgent need to address the issue of graduate employability. To gain insight into improving the unemployment situation, it is crucial to consider graduates’ perspectives. A quantitative assessment of self-perceived employable abilities is widely accepted as critical for success in the labour market. Against this backdrop, this study aims to achieve five specific research objectives. First, it aims to identify variations in graduates’ self-perceived employability based on factors like gender, marital status, field of study, academic result, family financial support, and intermediary institution. The second objective is to investigate the effects of human capital, social capital, and technological skills on graduates’ self-perceived employability. Third objective is to examine the importance and performance of human capital, social capital, and technological skills in predicting self-perceived employability. The fourth objective is to explore differences between employed and unemployed graduates concerning the impact of human capital, social capital, and technological skills on their likelihood of self-perceived employability. Lastly, the study analyses the applicability of Bangladesh's National Youth Policy (2017) in addressing the contemporary challenges of graduate employment. The research employed quantitative methodology to accomplish the research objectives and used data gathered through a questionnaire survey in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The survey involved primary data collection from 415 graduates, either employed or unemployed, from different public and private universities. The collected data were analysed using several software tools, such as SPSS, SmartPLS, and VOSviewer. The study’s findings indicate that there is no significant variation in self-perceived employability between genders. However, variations were observed in self-perceived employability based on marital status, financial support from family, academic performance, intermediary institutions, and field of study. The findings also reveal that perceived human capital and social capital have a significant positive influence on self-perceived employability. On the other hand, technological skill was found to be an insignificant predictor of self-perceived employability. The importance-performance matrix analysis shows that human capital is considered more important than social capital and technological skill. Furthermore, the results of the multi-group analysis indicate that both human and social capital have statistically significant effects on self-perceived employability for both employed and unemployed individuals, whereas the effect of technological skill is statistically insignificant for both groups. Finally, the analysis of Bangladesh's National Youth Policy reveals that the policy should be revised and updated to address the needs and potentials of graduates in the country. In conclusion, the findings of this thesis offer a comprehensive set of suggestions for graduates, emphasizing strategic priorities for improving employability. These suggestions not only serve as valuable guidance for graduates but also carry significant implications for policymakers and the government. By implementing the insights from this research, it is possible to address the challenge of graduate unemployment effectively, thereby harnessing the demographic dividend and fostering economic growth.

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