An estimate of 75,000 of 300,000 fresh graduates are expected to face challenges in looking for employment within six months after graduation because of Covid-19.
These were the alarming statistics announced by Higher Education Minister, Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad. But there’s more.
Based on the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)’s Graduate Tracer Study (GTS) conducted in 2019, 41,161 graduates are still unemployed. And with 75,000 students expected to join that number this year, that makes a whopping 116,161 graduates that will need to be given more attention in order to increase their chances of getting a job, as reported by BERNAMA.
Noraini delivered these worrying statistics at the MOHE’s National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) Career Advancement Programme (PENJANA KPT-CAP). However, she added that several steps have been taken by the ministry to help graduates by providing financial assistance for those who wish to pursue tertiary education.
This funding assistance will include initiatives like MyBrain Science, higher education scholarships and financing students with disabilities. A collaboration with SOCSO through the MyFutureJobs portal has also been implemented to ease the burden that these graduates will bear.
While these statistics seem bleak, Noraini also shared that 189,543 out of 330,557 graduates managed to find employment within six months after graduating. 49,875 graduates are pursuing tertiary education while another 4,029 are currently undergoing training to improve their skills.
The government has also allocated RM100 million to the ministry which is targeted to benefit 20,000 graduates involving synergies with over 100 companies. The Ministry has also developed the Graduates Reference Hub for Employment and Training (GREat) which will offer services such as job matching, re-skilling, upskilling and grants for further education and career counselling.
“I am confident that with the right strategy, we can achieve greater success to help increase the marketability of graduates and contribute to the economic empowerment of the country,” said Noraini.
What do you guys think of these statistics?
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