Employability Skills of Graduates in the Hospitality Industry: Implication for Educational Enhancement

Employability skills are essential indicators of higher education institutions in preparing graduates for the workforce. This study determined the employability skills of graduates from the College of Hospitality and Business Management (CHBM) at VMA Global College and Training Centers, Inc. It also examined the significant differences and significant relationships between the respondents’ demographic and employment-related characteristics and their employability skills. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed involving 148 graduates from School Years 2021-2024. Data were collected using an adapted and validated questionnaire and analyzed using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, independent samples t-test, one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Chi-square test, Gamma coefficient, and appropriate post hoc tests at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that the graduates demonstrated a very high level of employability skills in terms of fundamental, personal management, and technical competencies, indicating strong workplace readiness and adaptability. Furthermore, significant differences and significant relationships were identified between selected demographic and employment-related characteristics and employability skills. These findings suggest that educational preparation, together with workplace experiences, contributes to the development of graduates’ employability skills. The findings suggest that the College of Hospitality and Business Management effectively equips its graduates with the employability skills required in the hospitality industry. It is recommended that the institution continuously strengthen its curriculum, industry partnerships, internship programs, and competency-based learning initiatives to further enhance graduates’ employability skills.