What is the link between soft skills and youth unemployment in Malaysia?

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Soft Skills Deficit Contributes to Elevated Youth Unemployment in Malaysia

The development of essential soft skills among Malaysian youth has been significantly hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic's limitations on social interaction and informal learning. This deficit is a growing concern, particularly in light of a 2018 Khazanah Research Institute report indicating that employers prioritize soft skills over academic qualifications. Concurrently, the Malaysian education system's continued emphasis on academic and professional credentials, coupled with the pandemic's impact, has created a challenging environment for young job seekers. The Department of Statistics reported a youth unemployment rate of 13.9% for individuals aged 15 to 24 years in 2020, a figure that has risen while the adult employment rate stood at 3.2%.
Employers Value Soft Skills Above Academic Achievements

A significant finding from a 2018 report by the Khazanah Research Institute highlighted that employers in Malaysia generally rate soft skills as being more crucial than academic qualifications. This indicates a disconnect between the skills employers seek and the traditional focus of the education system. The report implicitly suggests that a candidate's ability to communicate effectively, think critically, and collaborate is often weighted more heavily than their academic credentials when entering the workforce.
Pandemic Hinders Soft Skills Development

The necessary restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as school closures and movement control orders, have severely curtailed opportunities for crucial peer-to-peer social interaction and informal learning. These experiences are vital for the development of soft skills like communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and character building. The prolonged absence of these formative interactions can lead to a generation of young people who are less equipped with the interpersonal and adaptive competencies that employers seek.
Rising Youth Unemployment Coincides with Soft Skills Gap

The Malaysian Department of Statistics reported a notable increase in youth unemployment, with the rate for those aged 15 to 24 years reaching 13.9% in 2020. This rise occurred while the overall adult employment rate was 3.2%. This trend is particularly concerning given that the pandemic has exacerbated the challenges in developing the soft skills that employers deem essential, potentially creating a direct link between a lack of these abilities and the difficulties young people face in securing employment.

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What is the link between soft skills and youth unemployment in Malaysia?

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