An Analysis of Employer Perceptions of Business Graduate Competencies

Abstract

This exploratory study assesses employers' perceptions of the importance and competence levels of performing identified graduates' competencies in the New Zealand public sector. The tertiary education institutions in New Zealand are facing increasing demands from employers and stakeholders. The employers demand that the educational institutions today should provide relevant skillset needed by the current organisations. What kind of skillsets required by employers and what institutes are offering to their graduates, however, are yet to be determined. This study attempts to fill the gap in the literature by examining this in the New Zealand public sector. Therefore, this study will determine what employers' work perceptions are regarding skills needed versus what skills graduates actually bring to the workplace.