Navigating Graduate Employability: The Roles of Job-Seeking Behavior, Educational Quality, Professional Skills, and Resilience in Shaping Employment Outcomes in China

Despite the rapid expansion of higher education, many graduates continue to face significant challenges transitioning into the labor market.This study investigates the factors influencing employment outcomes among post-undergraduate students in China, focusing on jobseeking behavior, educational quality, professional skills, and internship experience, with resilience as a mediating variable and regional labor market conditions as a moderating factor.A quantitative approach was adopted, surveying 400 recent graduates through a structured questionnaire.Data were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS to examine the relationships between variables and validate the proposed model.The results indicate that proactive jobseeking behavior, high educational quality, strong professional skills, and relevant internship experiences significantly enhance graduate employment outcomes.Resilience was found to mediate the relationship between these factors and employment success, suggesting that psychological adaptability strengthens graduates' ability to navigate job market uncertainties.Furthermore, regional labor market conditions moderated these relationships, highlighting the disparities in employment opportunities across different economic regions.Graduates in economically vibrant areas benefitted more from their qualifications and experiences compared to those in less developed regions.The study contributes to the growing body of literature on graduate employability by integrating psychological and contextual dimensions into the analysis of employment outcomes.It underscores the need for higher education institutions to strengthen career preparation initiatives and integrate resilience-building programs within curricula.Policymakers are also encouraged to implement targeted regional strategies to address labor market disparities and improve employment prospects for all graduates.These findings provide valuable insights for educators, students, employers, and policymakers aiming to enhance graduate employability in an increasingly competitive and digitalized labor market.