CRAFTING FUTURE LEADERS: THE IMPACT OF SOFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ON ENGINEERING COLLEGE STUDENTS EMPLOYABILITY IN ERNAKULAM, KERALA

Abstract

In the modern job, market, the relevance of soft skills has taken top priority, especially among engineering graduates. This paper examines the
relevance of soft skills training in improving the employability of engineering students in a case of a sample of 500 students from Engineering
College within the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. While the need for technically skilled engineers continues to grow, employera are
increasingly putting emphasis on graduates who embody key soft skills like communication, team work, problem- solving, flexibility, and
leadership. This research used a standard questionnaire containing demographic questions, Likert- scale questions, and open-ended questions to
measure students evaluation of soft skills and their influence on employability. The study utilizes a quantitative method and uses SPSS for data
analysis in terms of employing different statistical tests such as ANOVA, Chi-Square, and regression analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation
analysis and regression analysis to establish the association among soft skills, self efficacy( mediating variable) and employability ( dependent
variables).The results a strong positive relationship between the acquisition of soft skills have higher likelihood of getting employment.This
study adds to the knowledge bar of how engineering students employability can be enhanced using non- technical skills. These findings highlight
the need for engineering schools to include soft skills training in their curriculum, ultimately enabling graduates to keep up with the changing
needs of the employment market. The research enriches knowledge regarding the dynamics of technical and soft skills, presenting practical
recommendations to educators, policymakers, and business stakeholders in enhancing a more effective workforce.