Why are Malaysian graduates struggling to find employment despite their degrees?

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Malaysian graduates are struggling to find jobs because many degrees do not match what employers need, and too many graduates still lack English, communication, and basic workplace traits.

Malaysian youth unemployment was 13.2 per cent in 2017, about three times the national rate, and among Bumiputera, those with diplomas or degrees were hired less often than those without them. A 2018 study on graduate employability found that 64 per cent of weak candidates were seen as having poor character, attitude or personality, while 59 per cent had weak English and 53 per cent had poor communication skills.
The job market is not rewarding every degree equally
The hiring gap suggests that a qualification alone is not enough if the field of study does not line up with industry needs. The text says that if a degree makes someone less likely to be hired, then either the degree itself is the problem, or what was learned is not needed by the industry and the wider world.
English remains a major weakness for graduates
The employability study linked 59 per cent of graduate weakness to poor command of English. The text adds that after 12 years of formal education, English is still poor among many graduates, which points to a persistent skills gap rather than a short-term problem.
Communication and personal traits also affect hiring
Another 53 per cent of weak candidates were found to have poor communication skills, and 64 per cent were judged poorly on character, attitude or personality. That means employers are not only looking at academic results, but also at whether graduates can present themselves clearly and behave in ways that meet workplace expectations.
Only part of school education is being seen as useful
A World Bank study cited in the text found that Malaysian students receive only about nine years of meaningful education out of 12 years in school. The remaining three years are described as having little value in terms of productivity and relevance, which helps explain why some graduates enter the labour market without the skills employers expect.

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Why are Malaysian graduates struggling to find employment despite their degrees?

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