Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Background of the Study

Enhancing Graduate Employability skills is considered as an important task within

the University community. This study was conducted with the objectives of identifying the
employer skills needs in different companies, various definitions related to employability
skills, previous research done in different companies related to the employability skills
requirement and their recommendation. The study is based on a literature survey of
educational reports, empirical and theoretical research papers. Studies done in some of
the establishment here in Tagum City. Review findings reveled that skills definitions,
employer expectation and requirement differ according to different establishment.
Employers needs and also the learners skill enhancement capabilities should be taken
into account in formulating future skills assessments.

This study concludes that universities should identify skill sets that will best serve
the future labor market and align programmers to meet those needs. ( ASAIHL 2009 )
One critical measure of success in workplaces is an employees ability to use competently
the knowledge, skills and values that match the needs of his job, satisfy the demands of
his employer, and contribute to the overall achievement of institutional goals. An
explanatory-correlational research design was used to determine the extent of
relationship between categories of Employability skills. Inferential analysis shows that
fundamental skills had moderate relationship with employees contextual performance.
However, being more competent in thinking and problem solving skills provides
employees with more benefits in performing contextual behavior. Findings further
revealed that although personal management skills had moderate relationship with
employees contextual behavior, the competence in personal adaptability and learning
continuously are contributory across all elements of contextual performance. Finally, the
result of the study yielded that teamwork skills, particularly the skills on working with
others, were also moderately correlated with employees contextual performance. This
implies that graduates competence in employability skills could give them due advantage
in their respective work settings. Thus, proper attention on developing competence on
employability skills by employers, employees, higher academic institutions, labor
agencies, and policy makers may help address the problems on job performance.
Employability Skills Enhancing employability skills of the graduates is not a new topic and policy makers are still
making plans to increase graduates skills to meet the need of the current workforce. Higher education Institutions
are one of key player in enhancing employability and their responsibility to identify how they can enhance skills of
their future employees. Generic skills are the key term used as employability skills in most of the countries, but
what is meant by this term varies in different countries.

Employer Needs An employers perspective defines employability skills as skills required not only to gain
employment, but also to progress within an enterprise so as to achieve ones potential and contribute successfully
to enterprise strategic directions. (Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry & Business Council of
Australia,2002)

Statement of the Problem

The main thrust of this study is to find out Terms used in various establishment here in
Tagum City Area to describe generic skills.
Specificaaly, the study seeks to answer the following question:
1. What is the level of the employability of the University for the Generic Skills in terms
of:
1.1.1. Knowledge skills
1.1.2. Thinking skills
1.1.3. Personal skills
1.1.4. Personal skills
1.1.5. Practical skills
2. What is the level of Employers Expectation from employees in terms of:
2.1. Time management
2.2. Self- understanding
 2.3. Learning skills
2.4. Teamwork skills
2.5. Leadership skills
2.6. Problem solving
2.7. Working in diversity
2.8. Understanding workplace
2.9. Risk Assessment Management

3. Is there a significant relationship between Employability and Expectations of the

university and the employers needs?
4. What domain of employability significance of Generic Skills influences expectation
among matching employers needs?

Hypothesis

The following hypothesis will be testedat 0.05 level of significance.

1. There is significant relationship between goal setting and task performance among

the employee of DepEd Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

2. There is no domain of goal setting that significantly influences task performance.