EMPLOYABILITY AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS REQUIRED BY UNIVERSITY GRADUATES FOR EMPLOYMENT IN FISH PRODUCTION IN DELTA STATE

Abstract

The study was designed to identify employability and vocational skills required by University graduates for employment in fish production in Delta State. Three research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The population comprised 426 respondents made up of three hundred and forty four (344) registered fish farmers and 82 agricultural extension agents in Delta State. Simple random sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 200 respondents. Data was collected from respondents using structured questionnaire and hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using t-test. The results of the analysis revealed that university graduates required being equipped with interpersonal, communication, critical thinking, personal development and numerical skills to be employable in fish production enterprise. Water control management, repairs of damaged aspects of pond, stocking ability, good feeding regime, security amongst others are vocational skills required by university graduates for employment in fish pond management. Good draining and use of net, use of suitable harvesting equipment, transportation of table size fish were vocational skill required by university graduates to be employable in harvesting fish among others. Employability and vocational skills items identified in the study should be used in skill acquisition centers and training programme in the State to train university graduates.