A Multi-Dimensional Inventory for Measuring Future Graduates’ Work Readiness

The present brief paper offers a multi-dimensional work readiness inventory for measuring future graduates’ work readiness. It also highlights the importance of career success and employability by identifying the 21 dimensions of work readiness. This paper provides a summary of how the study developed and validated the work readiness assessment inventory (WRAI) using a total of 1,076 university students in Singapore. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to validate the WRAI. Using factorial analyses, this study examined the reliability and convergent validity of this inventory, suggesting that the WRAI could be used in universities and organisations to bridge the expectations of employees and employers. As there are limited numbers of studies which have developed and validated an inventory relating to work-ready attributes of graduates, the findings in this study can contribute significantly to research and practice areas regarding workforce development. Only by equipping our graduates with work-ready attributes, can they be competent and be confident in finding career success. This brief paper also contributes to labour policy by informing the key stakeholders that relevant work-ready attributes are important for career success and workplace transition which in turn relates to lifelong employability.