Hands-On Technical Skills Developed During Industrial Attachment And Its Effect On Employability Of Technical Institutes’ Diploma Graduates From Machakos County, Kenya

Graduates of technical institutes in Kenya, particularly those from Machakos County, have a persistent gap between the skills they acquire and the demands of the job market. This has resulted in higher unemployment rates among the graduates despite the integration of industrial attachment into TVET diploma programs, which is expected to equip them with competencies to enhance their employability. Furthermore, there has been a scarcity of information on industrial attachment and its effect on the employability of these graduates. The study was guided by the objective to determine whether hands-on technical skills developed during industrial attachment affect employability of technical institutes’ diploma graduates from Machakos county, Kenya. The study was guided by human capital theory and applied a mixed-method convergent parallel design. The target population comprised 347 graduates and 200 trainers and 3 principals, from which 175 graduates, 60 trainers and 3 principals were sampled. The technical training institutes were purposively sampled and then stratified into various departments. One graduate identified from each department was sought to help reach the rest through snowball sampling. The main research instrument was a questionnaire for graduates, while interview guides for trainers and principals were used to enhance triangulation. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using percentages, frequencies, means, and standard deviations, and inferentially using regression and correlation analysis with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Qualitative data from interviews were transcribed, categorized into themes, and reported in narrative summaries. The findings revealed that hands-on technical skills had the strongest influence (β = .298), as industrial attachment bridged the gap between theory and practice, improved technical proficiency, and increased job readiness. The study concluded that industrial attachment is a critical mechanism for developing employability skills and facilitating smooth transition from training to employment. It enhanced graduates’ technical competence, professional maturity, and workplace adaptability, consistent with Human Capital theory. The study recommended that TVET institutions strengthen industry partnerships, improve supervision and placement processes, and integrate soft skills and professional development training. Industry partners should offer structured mentorship, and collaborate in curriculum design. Government should standardize policies, support financing, and incentivize industry participation, while students should take proactive roles in maximizing learning and networking opportunities