Employability skills gap analysis among blocklaying, Bricklaying and concreting graduates in Niger state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was designed to analyse the employability skill gap among blocklaying, bricklaying (BBC) graduates in Niger State, Nigeria. One research question and one null hypothesis guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in Niger State. A total of 115 respondents comprising of 33 blocklaying, bricklaying and concreting (BBC) teachers from Niger State technical colleges, 44 building technology lecturers from different Niger State institutions of learning, 20 employers of BBC graduates and 18 BBC graduates. Ninety-Two (92) items structured questionnaire developed by the researcher and validated by three experts from Industrial and Technology Education was used for data collection for the study. The data was analysed using Cronbach Alpha and it yielded reliability coefficient of 0.87. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions and two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using z - test. The findings revealed, among others, that BBC graduates showed skill gaps and need improvement on basic skill, communication skill, self-management, resources management and system and technology skill. Hence, it was recommended that BBC graduates should be subjected to series of retraining programme in order to fill skills gap between the graduates, employability skill studies should be inculcated into the BBC curriculum to enable them prepare adequately for work.