The relationship between employability skills and career adaptability: a case of undergraduate students of the United Arab Emirates
Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning
ISSN: 2042-3896
Article publication date: 29 April 2021
Issue publication date: 19 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS-Arabic form) and investigates the relationship between Emirati students' employability skills and their career adaptability in the workplace, against the backdrop of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0).
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was conducted of 420 full-time, working and part-time students in their final year in the United Arab Emirates (UAEs).
Findings
As hypothesized, career adaptability is positively related to the employability skills of complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management and coordinating with others, even when controlling for demographic characteristics.
Practical implications
Consistent with career construction theory, this study presents evidence of the instrumental role of skills required for IR 4.0 in managing career resources and subjective career success. Understanding the relationship between IR 4.0 skills and career adaptability offers valuable insights for academia and policymakers on formulating strategies and action plans to continually update Emirati students' transferable skills. It is also crucial for long-term success in human capital sustainability under the Emiratization policy.
Originality/value
This study is a preliminary step toward clarifying the complex mechanism through which career adaptability relates to career outcomes and sustaining employability. Concentrating on UAE undergraduates, this study elucidates the relationship between employability skills and career adaptability, and advocates more research employing boundary conditions that might limit their effects on adapting behaviors.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all the participants for voluntarily taking part in the survey.
Citation
Khalid, K. and Ahmad, A.M. (2021), "The relationship between employability skills and career adaptability: a case of undergraduate students of the United Arab Emirates", Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol. 11 No. 5, pp. 1035-1054. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-08-2020-0175
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited