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The influence of emotional intelligence on graduate employability: Using university-industry linkages as a moderator

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In the context of the global expansion of higher education institutions, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of graduates, predictably resulting in a rising unemployment rate. Graduate employability, which is crucial for securing employment, is considered to be significantly affected by emotional intelligence. Despite growing evidence that collaborations between universities and industries can enhance graduate employability, little is known about whether such linkages serve as a moderating mechanism in the relationship between emotional intelligence and employability, representing a critical gap in current scholarship. Therefore, this study explicitly addresses this gap by examining both the direct effect of emotional intelligence on graduate employability and the potential moderating role of university-industry linkages. A final total of 380 unemployed graduates from seven randomly selected higher education institutions in Chongqing, China, were surveyed, and the results were analyzed by SPSS 29.0. The findings revealed that emotional intelligence has a significant influence on the employability of graduates and that university-industry linkages do not have a moderating effect on this path. This research is expected to contribute valuable insights into the factors that determine graduate employability and to clarify the theoretical positioning of university-industry linkages within this relationship. • Emotional intelligence (EI) significantly influences graduate employability (GE). • University-industry linkages (UILs) did not significantly moderate the EI–GE relationship, though it remains valuable. • Educators and policymakers should focus on graduates’ emotional competencies and university–industry collaborations.

Source: Acta Psychologica

DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105959

Authors: Dajuan Chen, Yong Liu, Yangyintao Zhao, Yao Liu, Mijia Luo

Institutions: Sichuan International Studies University, Chongqing Technology and Business University, University of Malaya

Language: English

Topic: Higher Education and Employability

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,670