Exploring Chinese international graduates’ employability in Australia using a capitals-based approach

This research explores the employability of Chinese international graduates in Australia, focusing on six types of capital: human, social, cultural, psychological, identity, and agentic capitals. Using a mixed-methods approach, it unpacks challenges associated with these capitals, the contributions of these capitals to their employability, and agency of capital development and utilisation. Key findings revealed that Chinese international graduates were agentic in overcoming challenges and realising their specific employability goals; while social capital had the lowest contribution to their employability outcomes, cultural capital had the highest; and two unique forms of agency were discovered—prioritised employment outcomes agency and deliberate non-engagement agency.