IMPACT OF DIGITAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ON EMPLOYABILITY AMONG UNIVERSITY GRADUATES IN NIGERIA: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF DIGITAL COMPETENCE

Abstract

In today’s digital economy, employability increasingly depends on graduates’ ability to acquire and apply digital skills effectively. Despite ongoing digital education initiatives, many Nigerian graduates still face challenges in translating digital training into practical workplace competence. This study therefore investigates the impact of digital skills development on employability among university graduates in Nigeria, with digital competence examined as a mediating variable. Guided by Human Capital Theory, the study posits that digital training enhances employability when it is transformed into applied competence that improves graduates’ productivity and adaptability. A descriptive survey design and cross-sectional approach were employed in the study, with data collected from 352 graduates of Kaduna State University and Ahmadu Bello University. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Results reveal that digital skills development significantly predicts digital competence, and digital competence strongly influences employability. Furthermore, digital competence mediates the relationship between digital skills development and employability. The study concludes that employability outcomes depend not only on acquiring digital skills but also on developing competence that enables effective application in work contexts. It recommends integrating practical digital learning into university curricula, enhancing academia–industry collaboration, and promoting continuous digital upskilling among graduates