• Dr. Prudhvi Raju Duddu

This study investigates the perceptions and practices of English language employability skills among university students and employers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Using a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from two distinct cohorts: fresh graduates aged 18–30 and HR professionals or employers aged 30–47, representing multiple industry sectors. Separate structured questionnaires incorporating Likert-scale and closed-ended items were administered to each group. Data were analysed using SPSS to identify frequencies, patterns, and inter-group discrepancies. Findings reveal a significant perception gap: employers consistently rated English language skills as critical to employability, while fresh graduates demonstrated varying levels of proficiency and confidence. Employers identified speaking and pronunciation, writing and grammar, and overall business communication as key areas of weakness in graduate candidates. Students, conversely, acknowledged the importance of English for employment but called for greater integration of practical language skills into university curricula. Qualitative employer interview data further corroborated these findings, emphasising English as the medium of international professional interaction. The study concludes with evidence-based recommendations for curriculum reform, industry–academia collaboration, professional development of teaching faculty, and extracurricular language enrichment initiatives to better align graduate competencies with KSA job market expectations in the context of Vision 2030.

English language skills, employability, KSA job market, fresh graduates, employer perceptions, language proficiency, ESP, Vision 2030, curriculum integration, workplace communication

"Perceptions and Practices of English Language Employability Skills in the KSA Job Market: Students' and Employers' Perspectives", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no.j668-j675, September-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2506983.pdf

"Perceptions and Practices of English Language Employability Skills in the KSA Job Market: Students' and Employers' Perspectives", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no. ppj668-j675, September-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2506983.pdf