Soft Skills Competencies of Quantity Surveying Graduates in Sarawak: Employers’ Views and Expectations
摘要
In 2022, 187,000 graduates were unemployed in Malaysia, notching 7.4% unemployment rate. The trend shows that graduates lack the soft skills that employers seek. It is vital to identify employers’ expectations on competencies held by graduates. Employers are interested in graduates with various soft skills rather than technical abilities. The present study aimed to examine the soft skills competencies of Quantity Surveying graduates in Sarawak from employers’ views and expectations. The present study adopted the quantitative method through questionnaire survey covering 33 Quantity Surveying consultant firms in Sarawak. The employers are required to assess their views on the soft skills performance of current Quantity Surveying graduates in Sarawak and indicate their expectations of soft skills competencies of Quantity Surveying graduates. The present study obtained a response rate of 48.5%. Descriptive analysis was integrated to analyze and interpret information from the returned questionnaires. Findings of the present study revealed that the employers were satisfied with the time management, commitment, and positive attitude of Quantity Surveying graduates while the employers expected Quantity Surveying graduates could have good oral communication, commitment, and good written communication in the workplace. The present study provided a guideline framework for Quantity Surveying graduates employment and a significant implication for the Higher Education Institutes to align Quantity Surveying program outcomes with the needs of construction industry.