Self-Perceived Employability and Employer Expectations of Community College Students' Skill Gap in Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution, is reshaping job competencies and careers through technological integration, impacting global competitiveness, information security, and skill requirements (Jackson & Tomlinson, 2020). This shift has heightened job uncertainties, competition, and the role of institutional policymakers in aligning higher education with labor market demands (Kornelakis & Petrakaki, 2020; Tan et al., 2023 Tomlinson, 2012). However, inconsistencies persist between employer expectations and graduates’ skills, making employability, a graduate’s ability to secure and sustain employment, more crucial than ever (Fugate et al., 2004; Otache & Edopkolor, 2022). This study aims to conduct a sequential explanatory mixed-method study by examining student self-perceived employability and exploring employer expectations of community college students’ skill gaps impact on Industry 4.0. This study employed a quantitative phase surveying Louisiana community college student, followed by a qualitative phase gathering insights from employers. The two implications of the study were generalizability and researcher bias. To enhance the generalization of the study, the researcher monitored the quantitative phase to ensure the accuracy of the number of completed surveys. The researcher bias was monitored by allowing the community college designated personnel to distribute the survey. The study's findings concluded that employers highly recruit community college graduates due to institutional reputation, reinforcing student confidence in employability, while employers emphasize partnerships for workforce preparation. However, discrepancies exist between student perceptions and employer expectations regarding job availability and required skills, highlighting the need for greater alignment. The alignment can be executed through industry and community college collaboration, curriculum realignment, and experiential learning. As Industry 4.0 changes workforce demands, employers stress the importance of digital skills, prompting community colleges to integrate advanced competencies and strengthen industry partnerships to enhance graduate employability. The findings will contribute to research on self-perceived employability and employer expectations, raising awareness of skill gaps, and enhancing workforce preparation for Industry 4.0.