In an era characterised by rapid technological advancements, globalisation and shifting labour market dynamics, the concept of employability has emerged as a central concern in education. As educational institutions seek to prepare all learners for the complexities of the contemporary workforce, the discussion surrounding employability has expanded beyond traditional notions of academic achievement to encompass a diverse set of skills, competencies and attributes essential for success in the professional realm. Employability is no longer confined to careers practitioners in schools, colleges and universities, but seen as a distinct body of knowledge essential to supplicate resource and attention to lifelong learning, soft skills and professional competency development.

This BERA Bites issue offers an enlightening exploration into the intricate realm where education intersects with employability and highlights the dynamic landscape of employability within educational domains.

This collection of 13 blog posts offers readers valuable insights into the issues, tensions, policies and research agendas relating to employability in education.

The contributions to this issue explore: 

• the importance of employer engagement to support ethnic minority learners in schools

• the benefits of placements in university degree programmes

• the use of hybrid learning spaces to enhance employability for university learners

• school leaver transitions to university and the English Government’s initiative to ‘widen participation’

• the career aspirations of seven- to eight-year-old children in order to understand early gendered career destinations

• increased careers support for science, technology, engineering and mathematics in schools

• studying specific courses at elite universities and how this corresponds with eventual salaries for graduates

• how entrepreneurship education may serve to reproduce social inequalities

• vocationalism in further and higher education

• research gaps to support higher education learners in relation to careers and academic support for employability

• the varied priority areas for postdoctoral employability research

• the challenges posed by technological advancements to traditional workplaces, business models and conventionally valued skills

• how the educational objectives of employability and social justice can be meaningfully and successfully addressed together.