Employers’ perceptions of young higher education graduates’ employability in Belarus

Abstract

This paper explores the employability of young Higher Education (HE) graduates in Belarus, from the point of view of employers. Graduate employability can be defined by six items: starting a job; learning at work; performing work tasks; improving professional prospects; improving personal development; and developing entrepreneurial capacity. The FOSTERC database contains representative information on 261 employers in 2018 derived from an employer questionnaire. The questionnaire includes a specific section, which asked about 24 competencies associated with obtaining a job after graduation, and the competency levels required by employers. The responses to these questions allow analysis of employability based on HE achievements and subsequent workplace learning. The 24 competencies are grouped into five categories: entrepreneurial, leadership, interdisciplinary, cognitive and adaptability. The findings provide strong support for the assumption that the match between individual human capital competencies and the characteristics of the firms and organisations matters.