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The skills gap, the discrepancy between the skills that graduates acquire during studies and the skills that employers need, has become a key barrier to graduate employability in many sectors. Despite the increasing number of graduates in many countries, employers often report difficulties in finding candidates who possess the skills needed for modern jobs (Mukerjee, 2024). The disconnect between education and labor market demands has sparked debates over the role of higher education in preparing students for the workforce (Donovan et al., 2022). The dissertation explores the misalignment between the skills students are leaving higher education with and labor market needs, and to understand the factors influencing graduates’ readiness for employment. This was completed by analyzing secondary data, which provided insight into the perception from students of skills required to be employable and the skills employers are looking for in new hires (Sarin, 2019). Descriptive statistics are used in this quantitative dissertation including measures of central tendency and measure of dispersion. In addition, regression analysis and visual representations are used to make the information easier to understand to show patterns and trends clearly. The surveys include non-technical skills, technical skills, behavioral skills. The study found that while higher education positively influences employability, traditional academic metrics like GPA, SAT scores, and university ranking have limited impact on job offers or salaries. Instead, practical experiences, particularly internships and completed projects, along with soft skills such as communication and self-confidence, are more strongly associated with employment outcomes. Future research should expand to other academic fields, use qualitative and or mixed methods, include international and regional comparisons, and assess specific educational interventions through experimental designs to better understand and enhance graduate employability.