KUALA LUMPUR: Graduates may take time to secure jobs that match their qualifications as they build experience and develop additional skills, says Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.
His remarks come amid concerns over graduate underemployment, with Statistics Department data showing that approximately 1.6 million graduates are working below their qualification levels in 2024, despite a marginal improvement in the underemployment rate.
Khairul Firdaus said achieving an optimal match between graduates' qualifications and their jobs is a gradual process, particularly as technological advancements and changing job requirements continue to reshape the labour market.
He said graduates need to build experience, acquire additional skills and adapt their competencies to meet evolving industry demands.
"The government takes the issue of underemployment and job mismatches seriously, particularly skills-related underemployment among graduates," he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 28).
According to the Statistics Department, the number of graduates working in jobs below their qualifications increased from approximately 1.54 million in 2023 to 1.6 million in 2024, despite the skills-related underemployment rate declining marginally from 32.4% to 32.2%.
Khairul Firdaus said the government was targeting a to further reduce the rate to 30% by 2030.
He said the Human Resources Ministry was implementing short- and long-term intervention strategies to better align jobseekers' qualifications and skills with labour market requirements.
"These measures were aimed at ensuring graduates could secure employment suited to their expertise while meeting current industry demands," he said.
Khairul Firdaus also urged micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to improve productivity through digitalisation, automation and workforce skills development.
He pointed to the RM2,500 starting basic salary framework for graduates and semi-skilled jobs announced under Budget 2027 as a significant reform aimed at ensuring wages better reflected workers' qualifications and skills.
The ministry, he said, would oversee the implementation approach and mechanisms for the proposed framework.
He was responding to Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera), who asked about the government's strategies to address graduate underemployment, improve starting salaries and better align workforce skills with industry requirements.
