INVESTIGATING THE SKILLS GAP OF ACCOUNTING GRADUATES IN SAUDI ARABIA: PERSPECTIVES FROM ACCOUNTING FACULTY AND PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

This study examines the skills gap of accounting graduates in Saudi Arabia and the required market skills from the perspective of accounting faculty and professionals in accounting firms. The research utilizes a combination of methods and data sources to explore the challenges accounting programs and faculty face due to rapid changes in the field. The findings reveal a significant gap between accounting education and the labour market demands, with accounting programs focusing more on technical skills and less on other general skills. Accounting graduates lack interpersonal, dialogue, and language skills, which are critical employability skills that should be integrated into accounting education to narrow the gap. The study also identifies the willingness of accounting graduates to learn beyond classrooms and university as one of the critical challenges in equipping them with the required skills. The research's originality and value lie in contributing to the understanding of accounting education and the skills gap, which can be helpful to professional bodies, university administrators, business school deans, accounting faculty, and careers guidance professionals in Saudi Arabia. The study's findings provide insights into improving accounting education and bridging the gap between accounting graduates and the labour market demands.