Graduate Work-Readiness in Malaysia: Challenges, Skills and Opportunities

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of graduate work-readiness (GWR) challenges in Malaysia in the light of various stakeholders’ perspectives. On the one hand, it is evident that the growing manufacturing, agricultural and domestic services sector in the country that are characterised by low pay, low skill and low productivity work with tough working conditions and limited career development opportunities do not appeal to locals, especially graduates, and are mostly filled by migrant workers. On the other, the low level of work-readiness among Malaysian graduates, despite continued government initiatives to facilitate human resource development, remains one of the major challenges. It is in this context, issues associated with transition from graduation to work as well as innovative GWR initiatives currently being undertaken are discussed. Keywords