The determinants of employability among final-year students at the federal university of agriculture, Abeokuta

Abstract

The study examined the determinants of employability among final year students of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). The study population comprised of the all the final year students of FUNAAB. A multistage sampling procedure was used to collect information from 150 respondents in agricultural colleges of the University. Study data were analysed using percentages, mean, Chi square and regression analyses . The study reveals that the mean age of the respondents was 24.51(±2.26) years. Female students were more (59.4%) in the sample of respondents drawn for this study. Respondents perceived communication skills as the most important (=4.5) for a good job placement after graduation. Majority (90.40%) of the respondents perceived that the employability indices of the job market were favourable to them. Self-motivation and commitment (=4.57), self-confidence (=4.45) and mature attitude (=4.36) were some of the indices of employability possessed by the respondents. There was a significant relationship between employability and career path (?2 =70.089, df=36, p<0.01) as well as students’ CGPA (r = 0.196, p<0.05). Also, technical skills (?=0.249, p< 0.01), communication skills (?=0.285, p< 0.01), and other skills (?=0.244, p< 0.05) were factors associated with the employability indices possessed by the respondents. The study concluded that employability of final year students in the university is largely dependent on their possession of employability skills. This study recommended among others that; institutions should endeavour to integrate employability skills training into their curriculum.