A Systematic Mapping Review of Employability Skills and Their Relevance to the Labor Market

The employability skills gap, defined as the mismatch between the skills demanded by job positions and those possessed by job candidates, has emerged as a critical challenge across a wide range of economic sectors. While some employers remain willing to invest in training to address skill deficiencies, there is a growing preference for recruiting job-ready and well-qualified candidates. This shift is largely driven by the rapid transformation of the labour market under the influence of digitalisation. In the context of the digital labour market, employability has become a central concern in discussions surrounding workforce readiness and competitiveness. Employers increasingly seek individuals who possess a balanced combination of interpersonal, technical, professional, and attitudinal skills that enable effective collaboration and adaptability in dynamic work environments. Soft skills that were previously considered secondary: such as creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication, are now regarded as essential competencies for sustaining organisational performance and innovation. These so-called soft skills are increasingly recognised as valuable human capital assets and are progressively embedded in employer expectations. This paper aims to do a systematic mapping review which can examine the relevance, evolution, and classification of employability skills within the digital labour market, synthesising existing research to identify prevailing trends, research gaps, and directions for future study.