TVET graduates may have jobs, but are they the right jobs? MEF asks

The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has urged a more comprehensive evaluation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates' employability. Senior adviser Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman emphasized that while the 2025 employability rates were impressive, the quality and relevance of these jobs should also be considered.

Syed Hussain suggested that future TVET performance indicators should include aspects such as job relevance, starting salaries, wage progression, career development, employer satisfaction, and graduates' ability to adapt to changing work environments. He highlighted the importance of strong communication, teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability skills alongside technical competency.

Syed Hussain stressed the necessity of closer collaboration between industries and educational institutions to ensure TVET programmes align with workforce needs. He proposed a model where employers participate in forecasting industry demands, designing curricula, providing practical training, assessing competencies, offering certifications, and aiding recruitment.

This approach would help graduates better prepare for the workplace while enabling educational institutions to swiftly adapt to technological and industry changes. The MEF also emphasized that producing skilled graduates without generating sufficient high-value jobs could result in skills underemployment, whereas attracting high-value investments without developing suitable talent could lead to shortages.

Syed Hussain underscored that education, TVET, industrial, and investment policies must align to create adequate opportunities for skilled graduates. He called for increased investments in technology, engineering, automation, digitalisation, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, electric vehicles, aerospace, semiconductor activities, logistics, cybersecurity, and other high-value sectors.

The MEF remained committed to working with relevant authorities to strengthen industry-education collaboration and develop a demand-driven, industry-led, and future-ready TVET ecosystem.