Another pathway to reduce unemployment

MORE than half a million Malay-sians are currently unemployed, according to a recent report from the Statistics Department.

More concerning is that around three-quarters of the unemployed are below the age of 30.

While the government’s investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is helping to create opportunities for technically inclined Malay-sians, there may be value in developing another pathway that receives far less attention but offers substantial employment opportunities: sales and services.

At any given time, thousands of vacancies exist across sales, customer engagement, account management, business development, customer support and related functions.

These roles span almost every sector of the economy and can provide opportunities not only for fresh graduates but also displaced workers, non-technical graduates and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Every year, our universities and colleges produce graduates from business, communications, social sciences, arts, humanities and other non-technical disciplines.

At the same time, automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping many clerical, administrative and routine jobs.

As a result, a growing number of Malaysians will need practical pathways into occupations that rely more on human interaction, communication and customer engagement.

Sales and services can provide such a pathway. Across manufacturing, technology, healthcare, banking, logistics, tourism, retail and professional services, organisations nationwide continue to seek individuals who can engage customers, support business growth, manage relationships and deliver excellent service.

This is particularly relevant today as many young Malaysians, including Gen Z job seekers, increasingly prefer employment opportunities closer to home.

More importantly, they offer an avenue for many Malaysians who may not naturally gravitate towards technical careers but excel in market-facing roles.

Furthermore, this pathway can support future entrepreneurship and self-employment.

Many successful entrepreneurs begin not with technical expertise but with an understanding of customers, markets, relationships and opportunities.

Of course, this pathway must be developed carefully.

The objective should not be to produce transactional or high- pressure salespeople. Instead, it should be on developing professionals with strong fundamentals, sound ethics, disciplined habits and a customer-centric mindset.

Participants should learn how to understand customer needs, provide solutions, create value and build long-term relationships.

Such training can prepare individuals not only for successful corporate careers in sales and services but also for roles as intrapreneurs, entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals.

In an increasingly competitive economy, trust, service and customer experience matter more than ever.

Malaysia needs engineers, technicians and skilled tradespeople. We also need professionals who can connect organisations to customers, markets and opportunities. Both contribute to economic growth, job creation and national competitiveness.

By complementing TVET with a sales and services pathway, additional opportunities can be created for unemployed youths, displaced workers, aspiring entrepreneurs and many others seeking meaningful careers.

In doing so, we strengthen not only employability but also the resilience and adaptability of our workforce in a rapidly changing economy.

ANAS ZUBEDY

Kuala Lumpur