Career Readiness in the Arts: Critical Influences on Employability Among Graduates

This empirical study explores the key factors affecting the employability of art academy graduates in China. Employing a quantitative survey analysis, the research investigates the roles of career adaptability, career guidance counseling, public service motivation, and self-efficacy as independent variables, with high-performance work practices as a moderating factor, and graduate employability as the dependent variable. The study aims to clarify the relationships among these variables within the context of Chinese art education. Results indicate significant positive correlations between career adaptability, career guidance counseling, and self-efficacy with graduate employability. However, the moderating effects of high-performance work practices on the relationship between self-efficacy, public service motivation, and graduate employability were not substantiated. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Human Capital Theory (HCT), this research provides a theoretical framework for understanding the complex dynamics influencing employability outcomes. The findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the factors shaping employability and offer critical insights for policymakers, educators, and career counselors seeking to improve outcomes for art academy graduates in China.