Knowledge Mapping of Vocational Education Employability SkillsResearch (2004-2024): AVisualized Analysis based on Citespace

This study provides a comprehensive knowledge of vocational education employability skills research conducted from 2004 to 2024. 1545 documents were downloadedfrom the Web of Science database for the study.Utilizing Citespace, a powerful bibliometric and visual analytical tool, the study was designed to reveal key trends, influential authors, seminal publications and emerging themes in the field. Data was carefully collected from the leading academic database, Web of Science, thus ensuring a robust analytical framework. Through co-citation and keyword analysis,to explore the trends in the research topic in recent years, to identify the main areas of research activity, to explore the evolutionary stages of the profession as well as the main dynamics of the current stage, and to better prepare for the development of relevant strategies in the future. This study informs researchers by providing basic background knowledge about employability skills for visual and quantitative research. Thus, this approach allows for the observation of research gaps and deeper academic discussions on employability skills in higher vocational education. The study demonstrates the hotspots and trends in research on employability skills in higher vocational education, which are discussed and summarized in the hope that it can give more inspiration to the researchers behind.