Article Gold Open Access 2025

Employment and corresponding influencing factors for undergraduates of applied university: A case study in China

Humanities and Social Sciences Letters
Journal · Vol. 13 · Issue 4 · pp. 1562-1583
Abstract

This study investigates the employment status and influencing factors among undergraduates of applied universities in China, focusing on 2024 graduates from a Sichuan university to identify key determinants of successful job placement. A mixed-methods approach was used combining quantitative survey data analysis with qualitative interviews. The survey gathered data on employment rates, job relevance to majors, and personal/educational factors while interviews provided deeper insights. The employment rate for 2024 graduates was 57.87% with only 29.41% in major-related jobs. Significant and positive factors included awards, major understanding, internships, adaptability, and employment attitudes. Graduates with strong professional, interpersonal, and organizational skills had higher employment rates. Issues like insufficient practical knowledge, high employment expectations, weak employment awareness, and the mismatch between specialty settings and social needs were identified. A multifaceted approach addressing educational and personal development is essential to improve graduate employment outcomes in China's evolving economy. The study proposes an integrated employment education system involving government, universities, and society emphasizing practical ability cultivation, comprehensive and sustainable development, and equipping graduates with new quality productivity for employment. © 2025 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Influencing factors Application-oriented university Employment countermeasures Practical ability University graduates employment

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Faculty of Education and Sports Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Faculty of Education and Sports Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dazhou Central Hospital, Dazhou City, China
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
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