Mapping the framework of the Employability: A Bibliometric Analysis Integrating Mentoring, Protean Career Attitude & AI Consciousness

Abstract

Employability has gained increasing attention in higher education, particularly in view of widening skill gaps and evolving labour market expectations. The present study seeks to identify key precursors of employability and proposes a comprehensive conceptual framework to explain pathways through which employability can be strengthened. Based on a review of existing literature, the framework conceptualises mentoring as a significant environmental antecedent of employability and examines the mediating role of protean career attitude in this association. It is proposed that mentoring influences employability not only through direct developmental support but also by encouraging self-directed and adaptive career orientations among individuals. Protean career attitude, reflecting proactive career management and personal responsibility for career decisions, is expected to partially mediate the relationship between mentoring and employability. By integrating mentoring and protean career attitudes within a unified framework, the study presents a holistic perspective on employability development. The proposed framework extends existing literature by strengthening theoretical understanding of employability precursors and offers practical insights for educators, employers, and policymakers concerned with improving employment outcomes.