{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7147094537","doi":"https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733","title":"Bridging the gap: Employers\u2019 perceptions of hospitality graduates\u2019 employability skills in Gauteng, South Africa","display_name":"Bridging the gap: Employers\u2019 perceptions of hospitality graduates\u2019 employability skills in Gauteng, South Africa","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-03-31","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7147094537","doi":"https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733","doi":"https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210229328","display_name":"African Journal of Hospitality Tourism and Leisure","issn_l":"2223-814X","issn":["2223-814X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":false,"listed_in":["anvur-scientific","dhet","doaj","norway-1","poland-20","russia-white-list-1"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310315325","host_organization_name":"AfricaJournals","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310315325"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["AfricaJournals"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by-nc-nd","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"African Journal of Hospitality Tourism and Leisure","raw_type":"journal-article"},"volume":null,"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref","doaj"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"gold","oa_url":"https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733","any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5132619813","display_name":"Mogomotsi Shaun Thole","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I137616099","display_name":"Tshwane University of Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/037mrss42","country_code":"ZA","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I137616099"]}],"countries":["ZA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Mogomotsi Shaun Thole","raw_affiliation_strings":["Tshwane University of Technology"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Tshwane University of Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I137616099"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5065279206","display_name":"Joseph Robert Roberson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6679-4251","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6679-4251"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I137616099","display_name":"Tshwane University of Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/037mrss42","country_code":"ZA","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I137616099"]}],"countries":["ZA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Joseph Robert Roberson","raw_affiliation_strings":["Tshwane University of Technology"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Tshwane University of Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I137616099"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5046785375","display_name":"Malome Prince Shai","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6786-3324","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6786-3324"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I137616099","display_name":"Tshwane University of Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/037mrss42","country_code":"ZA","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I137616099"]}],"countries":["ZA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Malome Prince Shai","raw_affiliation_strings":["Tshwane University of Technology"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Tshwane University of Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I137616099"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":1,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I137616099"],"apc_list":{"value":3550,"currency":"ZAR","value_usd":192},"apc_paid":{"value":3550,"currency":"ZAR","value_usd":192},"fwci":12.3624,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":1,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.9646931,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":true},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":93,"max":96},"biblio":{"volume":"15","issue":"1","first_page":"231","last_page":"231"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12584","display_name":"Hospitality and Tourism Education","score":0.8579000234603882,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1409","display_name":"Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/14","display_name":"Business, Management and Accounting"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12584","display_name":"Hospitality and Tourism Education","score":0.8579000234603882,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1409","display_name":"Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/14","display_name":"Business, Management and Accounting"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11779","display_name":"Higher Education and Employability","score":0.14180000126361847,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3304","display_name":"Education"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T13034","display_name":"Information Systems Education and Curriculum Development","score":0.0,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1710","display_name":"Information Systems"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/graduate-employability","display_name":"graduate employability","score":0.953000009059906},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/hospitality-graduates","display_name":"hospitality graduates","score":0.8939999938011169},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/employer-perceptions","display_name":"employer perceptions","score":0.859000027179718},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/workforce-skills","display_name":"employability skills","score":0.8899999856948853},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/soft-skills","display_name":"soft skills","score":0.9340000152587891},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/hospitality-education","display_name":"hospitality education","score":0.6669999957084656},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/curriculum-development","display_name":"curriculum development","score":0.8009999990463257},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/experiential-learning","display_name":"experiential learning","score":0.906000018119812},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/work-integrated-learning","display_name":"work-integrated learning","score":0.9950000047683716},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/gauteng","display_name":"Gauteng","score":0.7279999852180481}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C15302153","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470863","display_name":"Employability","level":2,"score":0.9427000284194946},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C107482638","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q815825","display_name":"Hospitality","level":3,"score":0.8180000185966492},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C47177190","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207137","display_name":"Curriculum","level":2,"score":0.6553000211715698},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C525551149","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1495452","display_name":"Hospitality industry","level":3,"score":0.559499979019165},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C37228920","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1307600","display_name":"Experiential learning","level":2,"score":0.5202999711036682},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C190248442","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q839486","display_name":"Qualitative research","level":2,"score":0.4584999978542328},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144024400","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21201","display_name":"Sociology","level":0,"score":0.44179999828338623},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C26760741","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160402","display_name":"Perception","level":2,"score":0.43959999084472656},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C43075056","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15910354","display_name":"Soft skills","level":2,"score":0.42980000376701355},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C174348530","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q188635","display_name":"Bridging (networking)","level":2,"score":0.42910000681877136},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C80245801","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1477475","display_name":"Semi-structured interview","level":3,"score":0.41749998927116394},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C509550671","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126945","display_name":"Medical education","level":1,"score":0.4081000089645386},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C156325361","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1152864","display_name":"Grounded theory","level":3,"score":0.38679999113082886},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C189705334","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15816013","display_name":"Hospitality management studies","level":3,"score":0.38350000977516174},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C19417346","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7922","display_name":"Pedagogy","level":1,"score":0.36719998717308044},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C39896193","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380344","display_name":"Descriptive statistics","level":2,"score":0.3644999861717224},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C87156501","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7268708","display_name":"Qualitative property","level":2,"score":0.3573000133037567},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C39549134","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133080","display_name":"Public relations","level":1,"score":0.3522999882698059},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C18918823","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49389","display_name":"Tourism","level":2,"score":0.3188999891281128},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779363792","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1104185","display_name":"Coaching","level":2,"score":0.3179999887943268},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C20574239","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7834033","display_name":"Transferable skills analysis","level":3,"score":0.31540000438690186},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C15744967","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9418","display_name":"Psychology","level":0,"score":0.31040000915527344},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C120912362","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q136822","display_name":"Higher education","level":2,"score":0.3089999854564667},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777247013","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5038939","display_name":"Career development","level":2,"score":0.2761000096797943},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C156393514","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6934800","display_name":"Multimethodology","level":2,"score":0.25999999046325684},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C84309077","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3908516","display_name":"Entrepreneurship","level":2,"score":0.25839999318122864},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779011557","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16911265","display_name":"Curriculum development","level":3,"score":0.25679999589920044},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C162853370","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39809","display_name":"Marketing","level":1,"score":0.2563000023365021}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733","doi":"https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210229328","display_name":"African Journal of Hospitality Tourism and Leisure","issn_l":"2223-814X","issn":["2223-814X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":false,"listed_in":["anvur-scientific","dhet","doaj","norway-1","poland-20","russia-white-list-1"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310315325","host_organization_name":"AfricaJournals","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310315325"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["AfricaJournals"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by-nc-nd","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"African Journal of Hospitality Tourism and Leisure","raw_type":"journal-article"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733","doi":"https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.733","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210229328","display_name":"African Journal of Hospitality Tourism and Leisure","issn_l":"2223-814X","issn":["2223-814X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":false,"listed_in":["anvur-scientific","dhet","doaj","norway-1","poland-20","russia-white-list-1"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310315325","host_organization_name":"AfricaJournals","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310315325"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["AfricaJournals"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by-nc-nd","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"African Journal of Hospitality Tourism and Leisure","raw_type":"journal-article"},"sustainable_development_goals":[{"score":1.0,"id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/8","display_name":"Decent work and economic growth"},{"score":0.75,"id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/4","display_name":"Quality education"},{"score":0.4074000120162964,"id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/10","display_name":"Reduced inequalities"}],"sustainable_development_goals_aurora":[{"score":0.4454899728298187,"id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/8","display_name":"Decent work and economic growth"}],"study_designs":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/study-designs/observational-study","display_name":"Observational Study"}],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":false,"pdf":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":33,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W1533518040","https://openalex.org/W2040711119","https://openalex.org/W2048458361","https://openalex.org/W2090782000","https://openalex.org/W2151290208","https://openalex.org/W2281916184","https://openalex.org/W2565903849","https://openalex.org/W2587920046","https://openalex.org/W2588050207","https://openalex.org/W2619408540","https://openalex.org/W2896374009","https://openalex.org/W2921986321","https://openalex.org/W2955126582","https://openalex.org/W3013137692","https://openalex.org/W3046591986","https://openalex.org/W3108009838","https://openalex.org/W3157621494","https://openalex.org/W3207404018","https://openalex.org/W4214557027","https://openalex.org/W4224030839","https://openalex.org/W4239844026","https://openalex.org/W4283798193","https://openalex.org/W4319595536","https://openalex.org/W4322755844","https://openalex.org/W4367175664","https://openalex.org/W4378905978","https://openalex.org/W4385739348","https://openalex.org/W4386452766","https://openalex.org/W4400130627","https://openalex.org/W4401914603","https://openalex.org/W4404241149","https://openalex.org/W4407238893","https://openalex.org/W7131357979"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W4403747081","https://openalex.org/W7203499271","https://openalex.org/W4403151202","https://openalex.org/W7197384062","https://openalex.org/W4389218616","https://openalex.org/W7166691839","https://openalex.org/W7084066181","https://openalex.org/W2767131294","https://openalex.org/W272774597","https://openalex.org/W4378905978"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"The":[0,81,93],"South":[1,39],"African":[2],"hospitality":[3,34,49,156],"sector":[4],"faces":[5],"a":[6,53,59],"disconnect":[7],"between":[8],"the":[9,17,30,48,56,89],"graduate":[10,157],"outputs":[11],"from":[12,69,143],"higher":[13,134],"education":[14,135],"institutions":[15],"and":[16,73,76,88,112,125,152],"expectations":[18,46],"of":[19,33],"industry":[20],"employers.":[21],"This":[22,137],"study":[23,138],"aims":[24],"to":[25,66,129],"explore":[26],"employers\u2019":[27],"perspectives":[28],"on":[29,155],"employability":[31,132],"skills":[32],"graduates":[35],"in":[36,52,104,122],"Gauteng":[37,79,144],"Province,":[38],"Africa,":[40],"offering":[41],"context-specific":[42,141],"insight":[43],"into":[44],"employer":[45],"within":[47,133],"sector.":[50],"Grounded":[51],"positivist":[54],"paradigm,":[55],"research":[57,154],"adopted":[58],"deductive,":[60],"quantitative":[61],"approach,":[62],"using":[63,85],"structured":[64],"questionnaires":[65],"collect":[67],"data":[68,82],"purposively":[70],"selected":[71],"hotel":[72],"restaurant":[74],"managers":[75],"supervisors":[77],"across":[78],"Province.":[80],"were":[83],"analysed":[84],"descriptive":[86],"statistics":[87],"Mann-Whitney":[90],"U":[91],"test.":[92],"findings":[94],"reveal":[95],"adequate":[96],"technical":[97],"training":[98],"among":[99],"graduates,":[100],"but":[101],"significant":[102],"deficiencies":[103],"soft":[105],"skills,":[106],"including":[107],"communication,":[108],"adaptability,":[109],"professionalism,":[110],"initiative,":[111],"customer-service":[113],"orientation.":[114],"Recommendations":[115],"include":[116],"embedding":[117],"experiential":[118],"learning,":[119,151],"involving":[120],"employers":[121],"curriculum":[123,148],"development,":[124],"adopting":[126],"assessment":[127],"strategies":[128],"enhance":[130],"holistic":[131],"institutions.":[136],"provides":[139],"employer-driven,":[140],"evidence":[142],"that":[145],"may":[146],"inform":[147],"review,":[149],"work-integrated":[150],"future":[153],"employability.":[158]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2026,"cited_by_count":1}],"updated_date":"2026-10-28T10:33:24.094632","created_date":"2026-04-02T00:00:00"}
