KOTA KINABALU: More graduates have been getting jobs in the post-pandemic period, says Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
He said statistics from the ministry's Graduate Tracking System (SKPG) showed 29,099 unemployed graduates in 2022, a drop of 12,368 from the 41,467 recorded in 2021.
"The graduate unemployment rate in 2022 decreased to 9.8% compared to 14.5% the previous year," he added.
Sabah also saw a drop in graduate unemployment rate, from 21.8% in 2021 to 14.2% in 2022, he added.
"This shows... the level of marketability of graduates and job opportunities are increasing, especially in the period following the Covid-19 pandemic," he said at the MyFuture Jobs @ MOHE Borneo Zone Career Carnival at the Sabah International Convention Center (SICC) here on Sunday (Jan 21).
More than 1,000 job opportunities are being offered by 23 participating employers to locals, especially graduates from higher education institutions, at the job carnival.
Mustapha said it was important for both private and public universities to put in efforts to provide quality graduates who are employable not only locally but overseas as well.
"Graduates need to be given exposure (to develop) critical thinking skills, leadership, teamwork and a global (outlook).
"Today's job market (amid) economic uncertainty is challenging, so graduates need to be prepared to compete," he added.
The carnival was organised by the ministry in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), the Human Resource Management Department and Socso.
Mustapha said job carnivals were an ongoing effort by the government to ensure that jobseekers get opportunities from various sectors to address the issue of unemployment and lost jobs among Malaysians.
"In the current situation, cooperation among the government sector, private sector, industry players and educational institutions is key to achieving our goal in developing quality human resources, especially in Sabah.
"We need unity in action to address the issue of graduate employability.
"Platforms such as career carnivals, dialogue sessions between industry and academia, as well as collaborative programmes like this should be held regularly," he added.
