Abstract:

This study employs bibliometric analysis to examine research trends in the education-work-graduate employability nexus in South Africa from 2000 to 2023. Utilising data from Scopus, we analyse 2,237 publications to identify key themes, influential authors, and evolving research foci. Our findings reveal a significant increase in research output, particularly since 2014, with a notable shift towards addressing graduate unemployment and employability skills. Co-occurrence analysis highlights the centrality of concepts such as 'skills development', 'workplace learning', and 'graduate attributes'. However, 'graduate employability' emerges as an isolated concept, suggesting a need for more integrated research approaches. The study identifies research gaps, including limited focus on learnership effectiveness and graduates' perspectives. We argue for increased attention to the interplay between higher education, workplace learning, and labour market dynamics in shaping graduate employability. This comprehensive mapping of the field contributes to identifying future research directions and informing policy interventions aimed at enhancing graduate employability in South Africa.

Keywords:

Bibliometric Analysis, Graduate Employability, Workplace-Based Learning, Skills Development, South Africa, Education-Work Nexus, Learnerships, Higher Education.