Work readiness of graduates in the digital age: A literature review

Abstract

The robust development of the knowledge economy, profound globalization process, and digitalization in every corner of modern life have created an urgent need for high-quality labour. Thus, this review-of-literature research is an attempt to synthesize theories relating to students’ work-readiness in the digital era. The study draws on the information collected from Scopus-data-based journal articles published from 2010 to 2023 pertaining to the work readiness of graduate students, factors affecting their capabilities to meet the job requirements in the digital age, and recommendations for stakeholders. It is revealed that the dominant factors influencing students’ work readiness include human capital, social capital, cultural capital, psychological capital, and digital literacy. Some suggestions to enhance work-readiness for graduate students in the digital workplace are further discussed. Accordingly, the need to raise students’ awareness of self-improving their capital, the integration of career responsiveness into educational programs, and the collaboration between enterprises and universities should be taken into consideration.