The job readiness of fresh graduates has always been questioned. With universities push to nurture more work-ready graduates, organisations support for offering the industry knowledge, and students own will to learn more, the gap seems to have reduced. 

The survey, published by Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching revealed that 85.3 percent of direct supervisors are satisfied with their new graduate employees, this has increased from the 84.7 percent in 2020. This is the highest satisfaction rate captured since the survey began in 2016.

What specific skills were employers looking for? 

The survey highlights a 93.7 percent satisfaction rate with technical skills and a 93.5 percent satisfaction with foundation skills – including general literacy, numeracy and communication skills. 

The employers showed a 90.3 percent satisfaction with adaptive skills, 89.3 percent satisfaction with teamwork and interpersonal skills, and 86.6 percent satisfaction with employability skills.

“The result demonstrates how, even in the middle of a global pandemic, universities are producing graduates who are work-ready, highly employable and able to hit the ground running in the workplace,” Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said.

She further added that amid a growing skills crisis, it is the independent tertiary education providers that are doing the heavy lifting in delivering to employers the skilled and educated workforce they need.