KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry will allocate RM5mil to the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) to implement initiatives aimed at enhancing the employability of graduates and job seekers in public and private higher education institutions across Malaysia.
"Beginning in April 2026, this initiative will involve 400 higher education institutions nationwide, further strengthening MYFutureJobs’ role as a catalyst for digitalisation and technological innovation among university students.
"We will also work closely with the Higher Education Ministry in charting the direction for our students," said its minister Ramanan.
He said that although Malaysia has the lowest unemployment rate of 2.9% in 11 years, there is a mismatch between employed individuals and their jobs.
He said this after launching the MyFutureJobs Career Exploration Centre (MyCEC) at Nu Sentral here on Monday (Feb 23).
Also present at the event were Ministry secretary-general Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof, PERKESO chairman Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal and PERKESO chief executive officer Datuk Seri Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.
The MYCEC is the country’s first immersive hub that helps job seekers find jobs that match their qualifications and skills, as there are currently nearly two million unemployed individuals.
“Currently, there are 3.1 million jobseekers in the PERKESO database.
"We are creating this ecosystem as a one-stop centre. You come here and apply for a job that artificial intelligence (AI) will design for you. AI will tell you which area best suits you - whether it’s manufacturing, engineering, high-skills training, computer science, or any other field.
"Once it’s identified, you can go into the same portal where it will also show you available job opportunities," said Ramanan.
He said PERKESO resolved 208,000 unemployment cases last year and aims to meet this year’s target of 200,000 job placements.
"For this year, as of February, we have managed to solve 12,000 cases of unemployment," he added.
Earlier, in his speech, Ramanan said that the MYCEC is one of the steps taken by the ministry to solve the problem of talent mismatch and underemployment.
"The Fourth Quarter 2025 Labour Force Report shows that 1.96 million Malaysians are currently categorised as underemployed in terms of skills.
Imagine this - nearly two million people are working below their actual skill levels. On average, one in three graduates completing their university studies today is working in a field that does not align with their academic qualifications.
"This is a waste of potential that we cannot allow to persist. When talent is not placed in the right position, the national economy also suffers the consequences. If we aspire to sustainable growth and improved social mobility, aligning talent with industry needs must become a national priority.
"Therefore, today we are launching the MYFutureJobs Career Exploration Centre, or MyCEC, as a concrete solution.
"It makes the entire job search process more systematic - from early awareness and interest exploration to job placement - all within one integrated national ecosystem. We want job seekers to no longer “choose the wrong path,” but instead to be professionally guided from the very beginning.
"MyCEC leverages new technologies to strengthen national job search services, complementing existing initiatives such as the Career Exploration Programme (CEP), Career Exploration Centre (CEC), and MYFutureJobs," said Ramanan.
He said that if MyCEC shows a good success rate, more such centres would also be set up in other cities.
"MyCEC fully utilises AI technology and interactive digital visual systems. AI is used to analyse job seeker data in depth to ensure accurate matching with current industry needs.
“The use of advanced technology and modern information displays will make career exploration more engaging and user-friendly compared to conventional approaches," said Ramanan.
He also called on PERKESO to go to the ground to engage directly with university students and job seekers on campuses and within communities.
At the same event, he also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RHB Bank Berhad, to expand access to MYFutureJobs to 618,000 active users of the RHB MySiswa Debit-i Card.
