KUALA LUMPUR: Graduates with degrees in general fields face greater challenges in securing employment compared to those with professional qualifications.
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Arshad Ayub Graduate Business School (AAGBS) Economic Development lecturer, Professor Dr Tan Peck Leong, said that the primary issue facing the local industry is a skills mismatch between professional and general graduates.
"Graduates from general fields often struggle to secure employment, and this is a common occurrence. The real issue lies with Malaysian non-professional graduates, who lack agility and do not make sufficient effort to adapt to new working environments," he said.
Graduates are typically categorised into two groups: professionals, who are specifically trained for roles such as engineers, doctors, architects, lawyers, and accountants; and general graduates, whose degrees are in non-specific fields, such as business management.
"This problem is not solely due to the courses offered by universities but rather concerns how we can produce graduates who are willing to learn diligently and work as hard as previous generations. Therefore, graduates in this group need to be more flexible, determined, and willing to acquire new skills in the workplace to enhance their market value," he told Berita Harian.
It was previously reported that the World Bank found Malaysia faces a significant gap between the number of highly educated graduates and the availability of jobs that match their qualifications. Currently, six graduates are competing for every one high-skilled job vacancy.
World Bank economist Alyssa Farha Jasmin said this trend reflects a shortage of high-skilled job opportunities in the country, coupled with a skills mismatch between new graduates and the actual requirements of the job market.
The rising rate of underemployment in terms of skills could hinder Malaysia's sustainable progress towards becoming a high-income nation if the situation persists.
Tan said that the country is experiencing a severe shortage of professional workers across various fields, particularly in engineering.
"For instance, Malaysia currently needs about 60,000 additional engineers, especially in electrical and electronic engineering. However, this problem does not stem from the country's inability to produce sufficient professionals but rather from brain drain.
"Many Malaysian professionals migrate to other countries offering higher salaries and stronger currencies. Singapore, for example, is a prime destination for skilled workers from Malaysia," he said.
A study by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) found that 39 per cent of Malaysian diaspora working in Singapore are categorised as skilled workers.
"We are losing engineers, doctors, medical specialists, and other professionals to other countries, and this is a significant challenge we must address.
"To develop into a socio-economically robust nation, we must not only improve the quality of education but also create an environment that retains professional talent within the country."
Tan proposed three measures for the government to tackle the issue of graduate skills mismatch and brain drain, which include producing agile and resilient graduates.
He also advocated for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching and learning, as well as attracting high-tech industries to the country.
"The government must ensure that non-professional graduates can adapt to changes in the industry by fostering a readiness to learn new skills quickly and by equipping themselves with the ability to persevere and acquire new competencies.
"The higher education system must be recalibrated, including how examinations are conducted and knowledge is delivered, to produce graduates who are agile, determined, and valuable to the industry.
"With the adoption of AI, students can be better prepared to self-upskill when entering the workforce. Graduates proficient in new technologies will find it easier to compete in an increasingly challenging job market," he said.