Immpacts of Technological Skills Development on the Employability of Industrial Technology Education Students in Ekiti State.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess the impact of technological skills development on the employability of industrial education students in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Four research questions were developed to guide the study. Technological Skills Development and Employability Questionnaire (TSDEQ) questionnaire containing 20 items was developed and used for data collection while three experts in Industrial Technical Education validate D the instrument. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was found to be 0.75 using Cronbach Alpha Coefficient. The TSDEQ was used for collecting data from 200 respondents made of four hundred level students of Industrial and Technical Education (ITE) students from Universities in Ekiti State. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. The study found that students perceive their technological skills as crucial for securing employment as many industries now require a combination of technical knowledge and practical application. Also, the majority of the respondents expressed confidence in their ability to apply these skills to real-world job scenarios, indicating that they felt well-prepared to enter the workforce. However, challenges including limited practical training, outdated facilities, and financial barriers were identified as factors inhibiting the acquisition of graduates’ employability skills. The study recommended among others that enhancing practical training opportunities, and upgrading facilities to better prepare students for employment in the industrial sector.