KUCHING: In five years from 2000, Sarawak has successfully reduced unemployment among graduates from a pre-Covid high of 4.4% to 3.2% in 2024, state Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee told the state legislative assembly on Thursday (Oct 15).
Breaking down the figures year to year, Dr Annuar said during the pandemic in 2021, the rate remained at 4.4% but dipped to 4% in 2022, 3.5% in 2023 and 3.2% in 2024.
"There is a decrease of 27.3% within the five years," he said in reply to Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor (GPS- Lingga) during question time.
Dr Annuar said although this decrease does not look large, the graduate employment rate also increased during that period to 20.7%.
He credited the Graduate Enhancement Training Sarawak (GETS) work readiness and Talent Up programmes for allowing the state government to achieve its goals to reduce the number of unemployed graduates.
To a supplementary question, Dr Annuar said that of the four Sarawak-owned universities, graduates from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus here were able to find jobs most easily, with their employability at 98.9%.
This is followed by graduates from University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) in Sibu at 97.1%, i-CATS University College here (85.4%) and Curtin University in Miri (83.4%).
On why graduates find it hard to land a job, Dr Annuar listed five reasons, with the mismatch between expectations and job opportunities top of the list.
The mismatch between academic qualifications and industry needs, inadequate high-skilled job openings, inadequate practical working experience and industrial exposure, and the lack of practical application of knowledge and skills are other reasons why some graduates find it hard to land a job.
Dr Annuar said a lack of communication skills is also a factor, while some graduates are offered courses that are not marketable.
"Because of that, the unemployment rate among graduates persists."
