KLANG, May 23 — To overcome the imbalance between the number of high-value jobs offered in the labour market and the number of graduates from higher learning institutions as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the government has launched several policies to address the matter.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the policies in question include the Madani Economy Framework and progressive salary policy, made by the government across ministries to ensure that every graduate and worker receives a dignified remuneration.
"We have about 300,000 university graduates yearly, plus 100,000 TVET graduates, making a total of 400,000 Malaysians with higher education qualifications, but every year we are only able to generate 50,000 high-value and highly skilled jobs," he said.
Sim was speaking to the press after the 2025 Trade Union Affairs Programme (PHEKS) Central Zone assistance handover ceremony today.
He also encouraged workers to join trade unions to negotiate suitable salaries or remuneration with employers.
Yesterday, the media reported that over 65 per cent of degree holders in the country earn a monthly salary of below RM3,000, thus earning an ‘enough to eat’ income with no room to save, invest, or increase their social mobility.
In addition, more than 70 per cent of graduates in the country were found to be forced to work in the semi-skilled and unskilled sectors.
The findings were obtained through a study, 'Gaji Cukup Makan' Economy: When Higher Education Becomes an Economic Risk', conducted under the Malaysia Labour Market Insight Series.
— Bernama
