publisher
Perceptions of employers and graduates on employability skills in online education: a rapid review
- Source
- Frontiers in Education
- Published
- Last verified
- 19 Aug 2026
- Confidence
- Moderate
- Evidence
- Original document retained
- Reading time
- 1 min
- Country
- International
- Relevant to
- People & Capability, Research & Evidence, Technology & Data
Executive summary
What happened, and why should leadership care?
A rapid literature review of academic databases investigated employer and graduate perceptions of employability skills developed through online higher education. The study aimed to identify frequently assessed employability competencies and common research methods in this area, highlighting the increasing importance of understanding skill development in the context of expanding online education and reported deficiencies in current labor market skill sets.
Why this matters
Why is this strategically important?
This analysis is crucial for understanding how educational delivery models impact the development of critical workforce capabilities. It informs strategic decisions regarding curriculum design, pedagogical approaches, and stakeholder engagement to ensure that educational outcomes align with evolving market needs.
Key insights
What should be noted from the evidence?
- Employability is a core objective for higher education institutions, reflecting their role in professional preparation.
- There are reported deficiencies in skills developed to meet current labor market demands.
- The expansion of online higher education necessitates understanding how stakeholders perceive employability competency development.
- The rapid review mapped frequently assessed employability competencies within online education.
- The review also described research methods commonly used in this domain.
Evidence and confidence
How far can this assessment be trusted?
Moderate confidence. Provenance established; supporting evidence remains partial.
Analysis is prepared editorially by Aziz Shuaib Ausi. The original publication remains the authoritative record, and executive judgement remains entirely human.
Source
Where does this originate?
Reported by Frontiers in Education · International. This briefing summarises the publication for executive use; the document itself is not reproduced here.
Read the original publication