Is What’s Past Prologue? A Review and Agenda for Contemporary Employability Research

Employability, which is commonly conceptualized as one’s ability to realize job opportunities within and between employers over time, has attracted considerable attention from diverse academic disciplines for decades. Research in these largely evolved independent of other fields, thus limiting the accumulation, validation, advancement, utility employability. Two central stakeholders much this research are employees, yet vast majority studies since year 2000 have failed explicitly consider interdependence, instead being characterized by an overwhelming emphasis on employee individual agency. Conversely, comparatively limited examining employer perspective often excluded consideration employee. Our review highlights characteristics, along with outlining common critical issues recommendations overcoming them. We also articulate how social exchange theory can serve underlying mechanism integrate disciplines, we present strategic employability architecture framework based human resource management facilitate integration perspectives.