Employability competencies in the hospitality sector: employers' requirements and graduates' preparedness post COVID-19 pandemic. A case study from Saudi Arabia

Abstract

COVID-19 has a huge impact on the hospitality sector around the world. The industry's competency needs have evolved due to the pandemic, and hospitality management programs must reflect these changes to ensure graduates' readiness and success in their future career. The goal of this study is to explore the employability skills needed by hospitality sector professionals in Saudi Arabia following the COVID 19 epidemic, identify to what extent hospitality graduates meet those requirements and determine any skills gaps that need to be remedied. A questionnaire survey was designed and selfadministered to collect data through a sample of 140 hospitality undergraduates from Umm-Al-Qura University and 58 Saudi Arabian hospitality professionals. The findings highlighted a significant competencies gap between hospitality graduates and industry needs. An index of skills was developed showing the competencies that employers believed important for graduates to possess before joining the hospitality sector. This research can assist Saudi educational institutions revise and/or update their hospitality programs, curriculums, and teaching styles to match the industry expectations. The study implied that more collaboration between academics and industry experts is required to fully comprehend the sector's new tendencies and fulfill competency needs.