A Study on the Employment Status and Job Competencies of Fisheries Graduates in Biliran Province State University

The 21st-century job market requires graduates to possess both strong employability skills and relevant technical knowledge. Employers seek candidates with skills that directly meet their needs, demanding that educational institutions shift from simply imparting knowledge to fostering comprehensive skills development. The study aimed to describe the respondents' socio-demographic characteristics, characterize their employment status, and identify the job-related competencies they had acquired. This study evaluated the employability of 32 fisheries (BSFT/BSFi) graduates from Biliran Province State University-Biliran Campus (BiPSU) (formerly Naval State University) between 2016 and 2020. This study employed a descriptive research design. Questionnaires were distributed to all listed graduates. The study sample consisted of 62.5% males and 37.5% females. Data collection utilized a tracer questionnaire developed by the Commission on Higher Education. Data were encoded into Microsoft Excel, collated, and summarized. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, including frequency counts, percentages, and means. Among employed graduates, human relations skills were most prevalent (40%), followed by critical thinking (26.67%), communication (20%), problem-solving (6.67%), and entrepreneurial skills (6.67%). The majority (73.33%) of employed graduates held contractual positions, indicating a lack of job security. The most common employment sectors were sales (26.67%), financial intermediation (20%), wholesale and retail trade (20%), education (13%), public administration (13.33%), and manufacturing (6.67%). A significant proportion of employed graduates (40%) had only 1-6 months of job experience, while another 33.33% had worked for a year or less. Only 26.67% had been employed for two years or more. The study suggests that enhancing career services and placement support for graduates is essential for improving employment outcomes and job security.