PETALING JAYA: Adaptability, strong practical foundation and quick mastery of new technology make Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates highly sought after in the job market, it was pointed out.
The Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) said TVET was no longer a second choice, but a key driver in meeting the country’s workforce needs.
It also singled out their practical skills of handling technical tasks with minimal supervision, problem-solving mindset and exposure in real work environments, saying this gave them strong work ethics, discipline and high resilience.
From 2020 to April 17 this year, it said a total of 124,863 TVET graduates successfully obtained placements in various job sectors through the MYFutureJobs portal.
TVET-related jobs that recorded the highest demand on the portal were those of customer service assistants, sales assistants, administrative assistants and software developers.
Through the synergy between TVET institutions nationwide and the job placement ecosystem by PERKESO, these graduates were now in a very competitive position, it added.
“Many of them are employment-ready and designed for immediate job filling, by minimising skills gaps through the National Occupational Skills Standards and In-Industry Academy,” PERKESO said.
To ensure TVET graduates were technically proficient before entering the job market, it said the PERKESO Employability Support Ecosystem played a proactive role through various strategic initiatives.
These include the early intervention Career Launchpad Programme, Professional Profile Enhancement and direct access to industry via the TVET Career Carnival and MYFutureJobs platform.
“The reality of Malaysia’s economy today is that it is driven by 95% of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“This landscape requires a workforce with specific practical skills and the ability to directly perform tasks.
“In the MSME ecosystem, employers require workers who are versatile and technically skilled.
“As such, the workplace in this sector is more suited to TVET graduates who have physical and technical competencies than professional graduates who may be more focused on theoretical aspects and upper management,” it said.
