Work Readiness of Vocational Education Graduates and Employer Expectations in the Construction Sector in Abuja

This study examined the work readiness of vocational education graduates and employer expectations in the construction sector in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, North Central Nigeria. Abuja's rapid physical development has created strong demand for construction trade workers, making the alignment between vocational training and construction sector requirements an issue of immediate economic relevance. A descriptive and evaluative survey design was employed, involving 150 construction employers, 300 vocational graduates employed in the sector, and 40 technical college administrators. A Work Readiness Assessment Scale specific to construction trades was developed. Results revealed a significant gap between graduate competencies and employer expectations, particularly in areas of safety compliance, advanced masonry, reading technical drawings, and equipment operation. The mean work readiness score as rated by employers was 52.7 out of 100, indicating below-average readiness. Graduates who had completed structured industrial attachment and safety certification programmes significantly outperformed peers. The study recommends formal integration of construction safety certifications into technical college curricula, mandatory industrial attachment agreements with Abuja's leading construction firms, and a Construction Sector Skills Council to advise on curriculum updates. These findings directly inform vocational training reform in one of Nigeria's highest-growth urban construction markets. Keywords: work readiness, vocational graduates, construction sector, Abuja, employer expectations.