IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v10y2026i2p1407-1419.html

The Employability Paradox in the AI Era: How the ‘Efficacy Gap’ In Business Curricula Hinders Technological Readiness

Author

Listed:
  • Ivo Soares

    (CINAV, Escola Naval, Instituto Universitario Militar)

Abstract

Despite the Bologna Process’ emphasis on employability, concerns persist that higher education has not kept pace with the demands of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-intensive labour markets. This article examines the formal competence profile of Business Sciences curricula to explore this misalignment. Using quantitative content analysis, programme-level learning outcomes from 421 Business Sciences study cycles accredited by the Portuguese Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education are analysed and mapped onto the USEM model through a validated competence matrix. The findings reveal a pronounced structural imbalance: while 85% of programmes explicitly include Knowledge-related outcomes (Understanding) and 63% include Technical-Scientific competences (Skills), only 35% refer to Efficacy-related transversal competences such as autonomous work, adaptation, continuous learning, or motivation for excellence. This configuration is conceptualised as an “Efficacy Gap†in the intended curriculum. Drawing on recent frameworks of AI Capital and Technological Readiness, the gap is interpreted as a structural condition that may constrain graduates’ capacity to convert disciplinary knowledge into adaptive, AI-enabled professional practice. The study contributes by (1) providing system-level evidence on the competence architecture of an entire national set of business programmes, (2) theoretically integrating the USEM model with emerging concepts of AI Capital and Technological Readiness, and (3) outlining implications for a transition from content-delivery towards readiness-oriented curricula that more explicitly foster autonomy, resilience, and lifelong learning as core conditions for employability in the AI era.

Suggested Citation

  • Ivo Soares, 2026. "The Employability Paradox in the AI Era: How the ‘Efficacy Gap’ In Business Curricula Hinders Technological Readiness," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 10(2), pages 1407-1419, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:10:y:2026:i:2:p:1407-1419
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/uploads/vol10-iss2-pg1407-1419-202602_pdf.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/view/the-employability-paradox-in-the-ai-era-how-the-efficacy-gap-in-business-curricula-hinders-technological-readiness/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nick Drydakis, 2024. "Artificial intelligence capital and employment prospects," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 76(4), pages 901-919.
    2. Drydakis, Nick, 2025. "The Formation of AI Capital in Higher Education: Enhancing Students' Academic Performance and Employment Rates," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1668, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    3. Drydakis, Nick, 2025. "The Formation of AI Capital in Higher Education: Enhancing Students’ Academic Performance and Employment Rates," IZA Discussion Papers 18138, IZA Network @ LISER.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fang, Xia & Zhang, Yun & Lv, Shuqing & Tan, Longxin, 2025. "Does digital finance spatial correlation drive income convergence?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    2. Zhou, Yuwen & Shi, Xin, 2025. "How does digital technology adoption affect corporate employment? Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    3. Kunpeng Wang & Jiahui Hu, 2026. "Governance of Technological Transition: A Predator-Prey Analysis of AI Capital in China's Economy and Its Policy Implications," Papers 2601.03547, arXiv.org.
    4. Drydakis, Nick, 2024. "Business disruptions due to social vulnerability and criminal activities in urban areas," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    5. Drydakis, Nick, 2024. "Discrimination and Health Outcomes in England's Black Communities amid the Cost-of-Living Crisis: Evaluating the Role of Inflation and Bank Rates," IZA Discussion Papers 17341, IZA Network @ LISER.
    6. Drydakis, Nick, 2025. "The Formation of AI Capital in Higher Education: Enhancing Students’ Academic Performance and Employment Rates," IZA Discussion Papers 18138, IZA Network @ LISER.
    7. Drydakis, Nick, 2025. "Youth Homelessness, Support Services, and Employment in England," IZA Discussion Papers 17660, IZA Network @ LISER.
    8. Del Río, Fernando & Rebelo, Francisco, 2025. "OECD labour share trends: Factor efficiency vs. market distortions in a neoclassical framework," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 2554-2591.
    9. Xie, Liufang & Peng, Zhengbo & Tong, Xiaoge, 2026. "AI strategy, earnings management, and corporate fraud: Evidence from listed firms in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    10. Takeuchi, Mamiko, 2026. "The impact of employment protection reform on the working conditions of fixed-term employees in Japan," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 1191-1217.
    11. Yan, Zhoufu & Zhu, Qihong & Leibrecht, Markus & Wu, Fangwei, 2026. "Spatial dependencies in the relationship between automation and migrant worker employment: Evidence from Chinese cities," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    12. Wu, Haoyue & Yin, Yingkai, 2025. "Data trading platforms and total factor productivity: Insights from biased technical progress," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 377-398.
    13. Xie, Jie & Tian, Jiayu & Hu, Yong & Wang, Quan & Dai, Zhaoqiong, 2025. "Imported intermediate goods, intellectual property protection, and innovation in Chinese manufacturing firms," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    14. Minniti, Antonio & Prettner, Klaus & Venturini, Francesco, 2025. "AI innovation and the labor share in European regions," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    15. Egana-delSol, Pablo & Vargas-Faulbaum, Luis, 2025. "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work: Evidence and Policy Guidelines for Developing Economies," IZA Policy Papers 216, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. Yang, Yong & Wang, Yonggui & Wang, Linlin & Wu, Yan, 2024. "Host country household spending and foreign subsidiary performance: The role of local knowledge, entry mode strategies, and the digital economy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    17. Luo, Xi & Jia, Kaidong & Xia, Yiming & Zhao, Guochang, 2026. "Impact of technological development on the employment of older adults: Evidence from high-tech industry expansion in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    18. Drydakis, Nick, 2026. "Artificial Intelligence Capital and Business Innovation," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1723, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    19. Zhou, Kuo & Qu, Zhi & Guo, Yiman & Hu, Runnian, 2025. "Does a firm's intelligent technological transformation matter for its access to financial resources?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    20. Wu, Yan & Niu, Peiyuan & Wu, Yunqiao, 2025. "Does the digital sector affiliation matter for the productivity of multinational firms?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:10:y:2026:i:2:p:1407-1419. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.