Promoting digital employment intention among students of Chinese higher education institutions

Abstract

Digital employment is one of the critical concepts of the digital economy for sustainable development. Promoting digital employment intention of potential employees is indispensable for developing the digital economy. The study aims to explore how digital employment policies predict digital employment intentions and to construct a structural equation model. Based on an online survey of 470 students with digital work experience from Chinese higher education institutions, the data were processed using SPSS 26.0 and Amos 26.0. The results uncover that digital employment policies have a positive impact on digital employability (β = 0.538, p < 0.001), digital employment capital (β = 0.524, p < 0.001), and digital employment intentions (β = 0.257, p < 0.001). At the same time, digital employability (β = 0.216, p < 0.001) and digital employment capital (β = 0.505, p < 0.001) also have a positive impact on digital employment intentions. The structural equation model emphasizes the significant mediating effect of digital employability (0.116) and digital employment capital (0.265). Therefore, the government should actively promote digital policies to encourage and enhance digital employment capabilities, promoting digital employment intentions and behaviors. The support and development of digital employability by the entire society, especially schools, and families, is also significant.