Cengage Group report highlights gaps between graduate confidence, educator views, and workforce needs

Cengage Group’s fifth annual Employability Report reveals nearly half of graduates feel unprepared for entry-level work, with AI and job-specific skills highlighted as critical gaps.

Cengage Group has published its fifth annual Employability Report, based on a survey of recent graduates, employers, and faculty.

The company, which develops digital learning materials and career-focused education programs, said the results show a persistent misalignment between higher education and workforce requirements.

Darren Person, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Cengage Group, wrote in a LinkedIn post that the research “uncovered a strong misalignment in the education-to-workforce system—while educators believe students are prepared, graduates feel different, and this gap has real implications for both learners and employers.”

Confidence and skills divide

The report finds that 48 percent of recent graduates feel unprepared for entry-level roles, despite 89 percent of educators saying students are ready.

Job-specific training remains a concern, with 56 percent of graduates citing it as the top skillset they did not obtain. The survey also highlights technology readiness, with just 51 percent of graduates believing they had sufficient AI skills for the roles they applied to.

More than one-third (35 percent) of graduates say they wish their education program worked more closely with employers to build courses aligned to careers.

The report concludes that stronger collaboration between institutions, educators, and employers will be essential to address gaps in both confidence and skills, particularly as AI adoption accelerates.

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