Examining the Relationship between Work Experience, Educational Background, and Employability: A Correlational Study

This study examined the relationship between work experience, educational background, and employability. Utilizing a correlational research design, a researcher-developed questionnaire was administered to a sample of 151 human resources practitioners from the National Capital Region (NCR) through cluster sampling. The research instrument's validity and reliability were evaluated by assessing content and construct validity, along with calculating the reliability coefficient using Cronbach's alpha to establish its psychometric properties. Also, interviews were conducted to triangulate the findings and enhance the study's rigor, addressing potential social desirability and response biases inherent in self-reported data from online surveys. Pearson R Correlation Analysis assessed the strength and direction of the linear relationships among these variables. The results indicated that employers prioritize work experience over educational background in hiring decisions. Specifically, there is a low but significant positive relationship between the preference for work experience and the likelihood of applicants being hired, as well as between the preference for educational background and employment probability. These findings suggest that job seekers might enhance their employability by acquiring relevant work experience and that hiring practices could benefit from placing greater emphasis on practical experience. Thus, the study acknowledges limitations including the use of simple random sampling and the geographic focus on the National Capital Region, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.