GRADUATES may need time to secure jobs that match their qualifications as they build experience and develop more skills, says Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.
The Deputy Human Resources Minister said this amid concerns over graduate underemployment, with Statistics Department (DOSM) data showing that about 1.6 million graduates were 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 reshape the labour market.
He said graduates needed 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 the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
According to DOSM, the number of graduates working in jobs below their qualifications increased from approximately 1.54 million in 2023 to 1.6 million in 2024, although the skills-related underemployment rate declined marginally from 32.4% to 32.2%.
Khairul Firdaus said the government was targeting a further reduction 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 added.
Khairul Firdaus also urged micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to improve productivity through digitalisation, automation and workforce skills development.
