Employability: An Umbrella Review

This paper presents an analysis of a focused selection of twenty-three systematic literature reviews on employability, reflecting our concerns about the quantity and quality of research and the proliferation of review studies on this topic. Our umbrella review followed PRISMA methodology and identified three broad areas of employability research: 1) the complex and multidimensional nature of employability, 2) competencies, capitals, and individual development for employability, and 3) contextual factors, inequalities, and shared responsibility in employability. Within these, we identified twelve main micro-themes of contemporary research and opportunities for future research. We found a field characterised by a complex, multifaceted, and dynamic nature, marked by diverse conceptualizations and measurement approaches. Furthermore, findings consistently point to the importance of individual attributes, competencies, and the accumulation of various forms of capital, alongside formative experiences, in shaping employability. Crucially, our review highlights that employability is deeply influenced by global transformations and systemic inequalities, necessitating a shared responsibility among all stakeholders to bridge skill gaps and foster equitable and sustainable labour market outcomes.