Parental Career Support, Cognitive Barriers and Self-Efficacy: Implications for Developing Employability Skills in Vocational Students

Abstract

While employability remains a pressing challenge in the Malaysian labor market, existing research has yet to offer a comprehensive understanding of how psychological, cognitive and social factors interact to shape students’ readiness for employment. This study addresses this gap by developing a predictive framework that integrates these three dimensions to explain employability outcomes among vocational college students. Employability development in this context is influenced by the dynamic interaction of psychological health, cognitive well-being and social support systems that students experience throughout their learning process. Strategies to improve employability should focus on strengthening students' self-efficacy, reducing dysfunctional career thinking and strengthening balanced and constructive parental career behavior. By situating the research within the Malaysian vocational education context, this study contributes new empirical evidence to the literature, highlighting how parental influence, cultural dynamics and psychological factors jointly shape students’ employability outcomes. The findings are expected to inform policymakers, vocational education institutions, educators and parents in designing more holistic and effective interventions to enhance the employability of vocational graduates in Malaysia.