MELAKA: Historic City has cemented its position as one of the country's leading Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) hubs, with between 95% and 98.8% of graduates securing employment within six months of completing their studies said Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
The Melaka Chief Minister said the consistently high employability rate reflected the state government's sustained investment over the past three years in strengthening the TVET ecosystem through closer collaboration between educational institutions and industry.
"The achievement proves that the partnership between the government, educational institutions and industry has successfully produced graduates equipped with the skills and competencies required by today's job market.
"One of the strongest indicators is Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), which recorded a graduate employability rate of 97.9% in 2024 before improving to 99.2% in 2025," he said when opening the Melaka TVET Carnival 2026 at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh here on Saturday (July 11).
Ab Rauf said the state's TVET success was underpinned by the active participation of industry partners in providing industrial training, workplace exposure and direct employment pathways for graduates.
He said Melaka now has 408 industry partners spanning 18 key economic sectors, creating a strong link between education and the workplace.
"Our graduates leave not only with recognised qualifications but also with the practical experience and industry-ready competencies employers are looking for," he added.
To support future workforce demand, Ab Rauf said the state is developing three new strategic industrial parks expected to create more than 50,000 jobs in manufacturing and related industries.
He said the development would provide greater opportunities for TVET graduates to secure high-skilled careers while supporting Melaka's continued economic expansion.
In addition, the state government has allocated RM1mil under the TVET Technopreneur Development Fund to help graduates venture into entrepreneurship.
He said the grants will assist aspiring technopreneurs in purchasing equipment, expanding their marketing efforts as well as meeting business certification and licensing requirements.
Meanwhile, Ab Rauf said the carnival 2026 had drawn nearly 3,000 visitors with 32 employers offering more than 2,232 job vacancies, reaffirming the state's commitment to producing industry-ready talent while connecting job seekers with employment opportunities.
