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La Consolacion College Caloocan

EMPLOYABILITY OF COLLEGE GRADUATES

Senior High School

La Consolacion College Caloocan

Researchers:

Duran, Joaquin Alvino B.

Motilla, John Carlo E.

Mahilum, Zhyra Marie J.

Martinez, Angeline

Manalo, Trisha Venice J.

11 - STEM A

February 2025

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Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

This chapter reflects on the problem statement and specifies how the

study will be carried out. It describes how the planned study would benefit the

field. This chapter helps to introduce the reader to the topic of the research. For

any research to be useful, it must have a purpose, which is why the first section

of this chapter deals with the study's purpose.

Introduction

This study is about the ability of college graduates to get a job, they

need to endorse or make themselves attractive based on their skills, knowledge,

and personality to get the attention of their potential employers. They will need to

have soft skills which are very important if they want to get the job they are

applying to because that will make them suitable for that position. There are

college graduates who can't get a job because of their lack of experience and are

unsure of what steps to take, and that is why this research is important as it can

affect their ability to find accurate jobs that are aligned with their experiences and

skills. Also, this research is worthy of investigation because we can gain more

knowledge about the employability of college graduates. The gap in the

employability of college graduates can be caused by lack of experience, poor

skills, soft skills, and lack of focus on employability skills because it limits them to

give their full potential for the job they are applying for as they don't have enough

achievements to make themselves more suitable and attractive for those jobs.

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According to Denhart et al. (2013) “Increasing numbers of fresh graduates

are resulting in pretty low-skilled jobs, and basically, they are almost the same

with people who have gone with lower levels of educational attainment.”

This study indicates that the cause of the problem being studied is career

development learning, experience, degree subject knowledge, emotional

intelligence, generic skills, and social support. Multiple businesses are realizing

that college graduates they hire are not ready to enter the workforce with the

needed skill set. (Abernathy, 2014). The scope of this study is to address the

problems regarding the employability of college graduates and also to influence

them to focus on their skills and everything they are learning because it will be

useful in the future. This study is specifically designed to search for answers on

how to increase the rate of employability of college graduates. This study is not

only about the ability to get a job but also the ability to secure and succeed in a

job. Your traits will have an impact on your employer but you don't need to

exaggerate it, just be normal. Fresh graduates should have enhanced skills, not

only with soft skills but also with the skills that will make them stand out.

Addressing this issue is significant because it is one of the problems that we are

facing nowadays that still has no solution because there are still fresh graduates

who can't secure a job due to their skills which we gave the reasons and the

possible solutions in this study.

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Statement of the Problem

Our study seeks to explore the reasons behind the challenges college

graduates face in securing employment, despite having the necessary

knowledge and skills for various jobs. We aim to identify the key factors that

contribute to this issue and analyze the gap between academic preparation and

workplace expectations. This study specifically aimed to answer these following

questions:

1. What are the factors and challenges of finding a job for college

graduates?

2. Why does the employment rate of college graduates low?

3. How can college graduates employability improve?

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

This study focuses on the employability of college graduates in the

Philippines, analyzing the factors that influence their job acquisition and career

advancement. It examines recent graduates across various fields, considering

their job search duration, the alignment of their degree with their employment,

and the role of soft skills in securing jobs. The study covers graduates from both

public and private institutions within the past five years.

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The delimitation of this study includes its focus only on college graduates

and excludes high school graduates, undergraduates, and those pursuing further

studies. It does not account for international employment trends or industry-

specific hiring policies outside the Philippines. Additionally, external economic

factors such as global recessions or labor laws are not the primary focus but may

be considered as influencing variables.

Significance of the Study

This study aims to examine the factors influencing the employability of

college graduates, providing valuable insights for students, educators,

employers, and policymakers.

College students and graduate. This research will help them understand the

skills, qualifications, and experiences that enhance their chances of securing

employment. By identifying key employability factors, students can better prepare

for the job market and make informed decisions about their education and career

paths.

Educators and academic institutions, the findings will offer guidance on how

to improve curriculum design, internship programs, and career development

initiatives. By aligning academic training with industry needs, colleges and

universities can equip graduates with the necessary competencies to succeed in

the workforce.

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Employers, this study will provide insights into the skills gap and expectations of

newly graduated job seekers. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of

college graduates can help companies refine their recruitment strategies, training

programs, and workforce development plans.

Policymakers and government agencies, the research can contribute to labor

market policies and education reforms that bridge the gap between higher

education and employment. By addressing issues such as job market saturation,

skill mismatch, and unemployment rates, policymakers can develop programs

that support job creation and career readiness for graduates.

Definition of Terms

For better clarification and understanding of the terms related to this study,

the following terms are defined conceptually and operationally.

Job Market Saturation. This refers to a situation in which the number of job

seekers in a given industry or region is significantly higher than the number of

available job positions.

Job Acquisition. This pertains to the strategic process of finding and hiring

suitable individuals to fill available positions in a business or organization.

Career Development Learning. In this study, this term refers to the process of

taking steps toward professional growth by gaining new experiences, knowledge,

and skills.

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Generic Skills. These refer to essential abilities that are crucial for employment,

education, and life in general, but are not specific to any particular industry or

occupation.

Soft Skills. This refers to non-technical abilities that influence communication,

teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability in personal and professional

settings.

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Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter provides an overview of the related literature and studies that

helped the researchers gain insights and guide them in attaining the study's

objectives.

Factors and Challenges of Finding a Job for College Graduates

According to Ballon (2007), College graduates often face challenges in

securing employment immediately after graduation due to factors such as a lack

of job-specific skills, insufficient experience, and weak communication and social

abilities. To improve their employability, they must acquire essential knowledge

and competencies in their chosen field before entering the workforce.

Educational institutions play a crucial role in equipping students with these skills

to enhance their career prospects. Various factors influence employment

outcomes, including personal attributes, competencies gained in college, job

search strategies, and career-related decisions. Additionally, variables such as

age, civil status, region of origin, and educational background can impact job

opportunities.

According to the research by Kunal & John (2023), the purpose if this

study is to distinguish the factors that affects the Employment decisions of

college graduates. Personal qualities like motivation, resilience, and self-efficacy

are crucial in graduate hiring decisions, according to this study. Graduates from

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various fields and backgrounds provided data for the study using a mixed-

methods strategy. When hiring new graduates, educational credentials including

employment experience, academic standing, and relevant skills are also turned

out to be significant. Policy decisions that aim to improve college graduate

employability and lower college graduate unemployment will be based on the

outcome of this study. According to the study, policy makers should assist in

enhancing employability, educational achievement, and personal qualities in

order for graduates to well-informed job options. Moreover, career guidance must

be offered to assist recent graduates in navigating the job market and choosing a

position.

Low Employment Rate of College Graduates

On the article by Lu (2024), the K–12 program in the Philippines was

meant to improve student’s opportunities, but after many decades, many

students and graduates still struggle to find jobs. For low-income families, the

additional two years of schooling added to their financial problem without the

guarantee of better and easier employment. Even college graduates face

difficulties in finding a job. According to a 2023 Social Weather Stations (SWS)

survey, 25.6% of unemployed adults were degree holders, highlighting an

oversaturated job market. Many degree holders end up in jobs that do not match

their skills, raising doubts about whether K–12 effectively prepares students for

employment. Knowing these challenges, President Marcos has tasked incoming

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara with improving the program by aligning it with

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industry needs. The current Education Secretary—Sara Duterte also

acknowledged that the curriculum and must be revised. Business leaders

emphasize that professionalism, teamwork, and communication skills are the

qualities many employers find lacking and are just as crucial as technical

expertise. While the government is making efforts to address these gaps, the K–

12 program must adapt to the evolving job market, otherwise, graduates will

continue to struggle with unemployment and underemployment.

According to Lu et al., a low employment rate for college graduates can

occur due to several factors, including a mismatch between the skills employers

need and the skills graduates possess, a saturated job market in certain fields,

lack of relevant experience through internships, economic downturns, over

qualification for available jobs (leading to underemployment), and sometimes

even a poor fit between the degree chosen and the desired career path, leading

to graduates having to settle for jobs that don't require a college degree.

Enhancing the Employability of College Graduates

As explained in this article by Packer, M. (2022), current college graduates

lack certain abilities necessary for career preparedness and employability after

graduation. Because of this, when college students enter the work industry, they

frequently end up in positions that are either not what they had hoped for when

they graduated or do not require a college degree. As a whole, the college

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experience falls short in terms of professional development. This study will

address college graduates' current employability and career preparation it will

explore potential approaches and strategies for enhancing college students'

career development and preparedness. This covers, but is not limited to, both

academic-based solutions and more comprehensive ones including industrial

advisory boards, career development assessments, and extending the

participation of company and faculty partners.

On the article by Crease (2013). Debate about students' employability

states that it has 3 components namely: A good degree, generic skills, and a set

of personal attributes. This study saw the process of enhancing the employability

of civil engineering students by helping them comprehend the procedure of

obtaining evidence, reviewing evidence, and action planning. The support that

has been used for this research is the Development of the Objectives of the

Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). There are many help offered for Level 1

students to be aware of the relevance of documenting their progress and the

requirements for becoming a chartered engineer. Employers and fresh graduates

are included in supporting this work. A design project has given a background for

students to show their skills and personal tutors helped the students to improve

their work. Behaviorism has helped students acknowledge the regular nature of

the process of skills improvement.

According to Albina, A. C. & Sumagaysay, L. P. (2020), this study

examined the Information Technology Education graduates employability rate

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from a state university in the Philippines. A total of 86.76% graduates of BSIT

(Bachelor of Science in Information Technology) and BSCS (Bachelor of Science

in Computer Science) in a total of 177 out of 204 (86.76%) participants from the

year 2015-2017. It is stated that the Graduate Tracer Study is used for gathering

datas and informations of the study. They examined that 139 out of 177 (78.53%)

respondents is already employed and 97 out of 139 (69.78%) is known to have

knowledge about the program they take in college. After a year 28.06% of the

participants have their jobs, while 25.90% were able to find their starting job in

the last 1-6 months. It is also stated that 69.78% of the participants found the

curriculum program they had in college was helpful. This shows that the

knowledge of the college students about the curriculum program, will be able to

enhance their employability and produce necessary skills for their further

knowledge in the job industry..

Theoretical Framework and/or Conceptual Framework

must demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts that are relevant to

the topic of your research paper and that relate to the broader areas of

knowledge being considered most often not something readily found within the

literature

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Conceptual Framework

Chapter 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methods and procedures employed in this study

which includes the research design, sample, research instrument, and data

gathering procedures.

Research Design

In this study, descriptive qualitative research is being used. To ensure that

the research problem will be fully addressed, the research design refers to the

overall strategy and analytical technique you have chosen to integrate the many

study components logically and strongly. (De Vaus, 2001). The study uses a

questionnaire as an instrument for the data collection method. This aims to

provide a deeper insight into the reasons and significant impact of the low

employability rate of college graduates. Furthermore, researchers also want to

identify potential solutions or steps that can help address the issue of the

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employability rate of college graduates and to effectively carry out this research.

According to the study of Anastas, J. (2008), descriptive research designs help in

answering the who, what, when, where, and how questions related to a specific

research problem; but a descriptive study is unable to definitively determine the

answers to the why questions.

Sample Size and Sampling Technique

This study targets twenty (20) college graduates who encounter difficulties

in securing employment after completing their degrees. The selection of these

respondents is based on the premise that they can provide critical insights into

the challenges affecting the employability of recent graduates. The participants of

this study are individuals who remain unemployed or underemployed despite

having obtained their academic qualifications. Their experiences may be

influenced by factors such as skill mismatch, lack of work experience, or limited

job opportunities within their respective fields. By gathering data from these

respondents, the study aims to analyze the underlying barriers to employment

and explore potential strategies to enhance job readiness and workforce

integration among college graduates.

The purposive sampling technique is employed in this study, as it allows

for the deliberate selection of participants who meet specific criteria relevant to

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the research objectives. This non-probability sampling method ensures that only

college graduates who struggle with employment are included, thereby providing

focused and meaningful insights into the issue of graduate employability

Research Instrument

To assess the data collection, the researcher conducted a semi-structured

interview guide as the primary research instrument. The interview questions are

designed based on the research questions to explore the factors influencing the

employment difficulties of college graduates and the low employment rate of

college graduates. The researchers were able to gather data and determine the

factors that affect the employability of college graduates. Each research question

is expanded into two detailed sub-questions to ensure a comprehensive

understanding of the issue. The questions are open-ended to encourage

participants to share in-depth insights and personal experiences.

Interview Questions:

1. What are the factors and challenges of finding a job for college graduates?

2.1. What challenges do you encounter during your job search, and how

do these affect your chances of employment?

1.2. What qualifications or skills do employers commonly require, and

how do they compare to what you have acquired in college?

2. Why does the employment rate of college graduates low?

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2.1. What are the main difficulties college graduates face when applying

for jobs, and how do these affect their employability?

2.2. How do employers perceive college graduates in terms of

readiness for work, and what factors influence their hiring decisions?

3. How can collage graduates employability improve?

3.1 What strategies or programs can help college graduates become

more competitive in the job market?

3.2 What role do educational institutions and industries play in bridging

the gap between academic learning and job market demands?

By structuring the interview in this manner, the study ensures that participants

provide detailed insights into the employment challenges faced by graduates and

potential strategies to improve their job prospects.

Data Gathering Procedure

To conduct their inquiry, the researchers first wll provide the target

respondents with consent forms. Once the forms were successfully filled out, the

researchers conducted in-person interviews. Participants are selected through

purposive sampling, specifically targeting recent college graduates who are

actively seeking employment but facing challenges in securing a job. To gather

in-depth insights, well-structured interview questions are developed, focusing on

job search strategies, skill gaps, work experience, employer expectations, and

hiring challenges. Potential interviewees are contacted via social media, alumni

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networks, and personal referrals, with interviews scheduled based on their

availability. The interviews are conducted either in person or through virtual

platforms such as Messenger, Zoom, or Google Meet, depending on the

participants’ preferences.

A semi-structured interview format is used, allowing participants to

express their thoughts freely while keeping the discussion aligned with the

research objectives. With participants' consent, the interviews are recorded and

later transcribed for analysis. Ethical considerations are strictly followed, ensuring

that respondents are informed about the research purpose and assured

confidentiality. After transcription, data is systematically organized, and thematic

analysis is applied to identify recurring struggles, shared experiences, and

insights into employment challenges. This structured yet flexible approach aims

to collect meaningful data that provides a clearer picture of the employment

difficulties faced by college graduates and informs potential solutions to improve

their employability..

Ethical Considerations

La Consolacion College-Caloocan adheres to maintain the privacy of

the respondents of every study its students are conducting. The information that

will be provided will be gathered without the use of force and based on the

freewill of the respondents. It is the respondents’ right to withdraw or halt

answering the survey if they deemed it uncomfortable on their part to continue. If

they wish to withdraw, they can be rest assured that it will not affect in any

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manner to the service being given to them.Since minors are the primary

respondents, the survey questionnaire shall be accomplished by the pupils with

the assistance of the parent or guardian.The researcher kept in mind that all the

consent, permits, and letters required by the two locales of the study and all the

respondents were made available before the start of the study. The identity of the

college graduates, will remain anonymous all throughout the study; hence,

neither names nor private data will be revealed. In addition, the gathered data

were treated accordingly, considering the confidentiality of all the respondents

involved, and in accordance with the Data Privacy Act, with the only purpose of

accomplishing this study. The authors, proponents, writers of journals, news

articles, and the researches/previous studies used for the Literature review were

cited properly.

There are no risks and expected benefits to the beneficiaries. Respondents

will not be provided with any payment to take part in the research.

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