A review of employability skills for graduates in the construction sector

Purpose: The construction industry, characterised by its dynamic nature, demands graduates equipped with diverse skills beyond academic proficiency. Recognizing the significance of employability skills, this study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the employability skills to meet the evolving demands of the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: Utilizing Web of Science, this review focuses on articles published from 2013 to the research completion date (December 2023), resulting in the selection of 94 highly relevant papers. Then, a combination of bibliometric analysis and in-depth content analysis of the top ten most-cited papers was conducted to examine research trends in this field. Findings: “Soft skills” are identified as the strongest citation bursts between 2014 and 2016. And the emerging research frontiers are adaptability, communication skills and contextual supports. Additionally, the employability skills identified from this study can be categorized into seven groups: profession; personal capital; soft skills; career proactivity and adaptability; personality; emotional intelligence and work ethics. Originality/value: This research advances the body of knowledge on employability skills in the construction field. Moreover, the findings offer actionable strategies. For example, for educators, this includes incorporating real-world case training and workshops focused on developing these skills; for researchers, it suggests focusing on digital skills; for policymakers, it recommends creating work-integrated learning opportunities.