Labour Market Demand And University Graduate Employability Skills
[A CASE STUDY OF NORTH-WEST NIGERIA]

        The result of the study would enable curriculum planners, university senates, directorates of academic planning in Nigerian universities to revisit academic curricular of their institutions for the purposes of including those labour demand that could possibly enhance the marketability of university graduates in a more proactive way. It is hoped that the findings of this study would charge all the Nigerian universities to reflect on the need to equip graduates with ‘deep’ intellectual capabilities and a battery of applied practical skills which would make them more ‘work-ready’. Students may also find this study very useful as they prepare for the world of work.
        The findings of the study would enlighten students on the skills they are supposed to possess. A basis for further research in this area shall be created as the findings of this study might fill the gap in the empirical research literature for the benefit of educational researchers and reviewers.
Scope of the Study
        The geographical scope of the study is North-west Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. The zone comprises seven states namely; Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa and Zamfara. The North-west is selected for this study because it recorded the highest rate of unemployment of 30.0% (Ajaikaye, 2015). However, four states are selected for the study, these are Zamfara, Jigawa, Kaduna and Katsina States. These states are selected for the study in the North-west zone because they recorded highest rates of unemployment (Zamfara, 42.6%, Jigawa, 35.9%, Kaduna, 30.3% and Katsina, 28.1%). Other states in the North-west which would not be focused in the study are Kebbi with 25.3%, Kano with 21.3% and Sokoto with the lowest rate of 17.9% rate of unemployment (Ajaikaye, 2015).
        Labour market demand is identified as the independent variable of the study while university graduate employability skills are the dependent variable. The study would be carried out to investigate the influence of labour market demand on university graduate employability skills in the North-west Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. The study would focus on labour market demand and university graduate employability skills with specific emphasis on academic qualifications, areas of specialisation, work-related experience and age. University graduate employability skills would be measured through communication skill, basic computer skill, analytical skill, entrepreneurial skill, Information Technology skill and interpersonal skill. These are referred to as soft skills. Soft skills are those basic skills acquired by an individual within or outside the school system which the National University Commission (2004) described as non-academic skill. These skills are selected for the study because they are basic and transferable skills. They are generic in nature and could be acquired by all graduates regardless of their disciplines or field of study (Hager, Holland & Beckett, 2002).