Unemployment : 76,200 graduates still unemployed

The unemployment problem among graduates would be critical if job opportunities are limited and their degree mismatches the demands of job market.


Sarawak social activist Wan Zain Syed Modzar said almost every year, universities and colleges produced new graduates, however, job opportunities were still limited.

“The latest statistic showed that about 76,200 graduates are still unemployed and the numbers will continue to rise with new graduates passing out each year, all competing for employment,” he said, yesterday.

According to him, the government need to take the initiative to reduce unemployment rate by creating new job opportunities in various sectors to cater for new graduates.

“If the job opportunities are limited, new graduates could also experience difficulty in getting a job as for every vacancy available, there are 50 graduates applying for it,” he stressed.

At the same time, graduates should not find it difficult to obtain jobs if their degrees match the job market demand, he said.

Wan added that employers play important role in selection process of applicants that matched the requirement of the job.

“However, graduates should also not be too choosy when job-hunting as they need to pay back their education loan once they complete their studies,” he said.

He had also foreseen the use of ‘insiders’ in securing jobs for extended family members as well as friends.

“This trend has been in practise for a long time. However, it is rarely exposed due to interest of important person in the company who probably has use his influence to hire family members as employees,” he said.

Therefore, he suggested that government and private agencies advertise their job vacancies available, to prevent favouritism.