Employability Profiles of Graduates: The

Malaysian Scenario

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

1
2

INTRODUCTION: Policy and Initiatives

EMPLOYMENT SCENARIO BASED ON LABOUR FORCE
SURVEY

BACKGROUND OF MOHE GRADUATES SURVEY

EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF POST DEGREE GRADUATES

EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF FIRST DEGREE

GRADUATES

EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF DIPLOMA GRADUATES

76777

CONCLUDING REMARKS

POLICYANDINITIATIVESOFDRIVING
COMPETITIVENESS
EducationAct1996hasoutline:
ThepurposeofeducationistoenabletheMalaysian
societytohaveacommandofknowledge,skillsand
valuesforachievingthecountrysvisionofattaining
thestatusofafullydevelopednationintermsof
economicdevelopment,socialjusticeandspiritual,
moralandethicalstrength,towardscreatingasociety
thatisunited,democratic,liberalanddynamic;and
themissionistocreateaworldclassqualityeducation
system.

TheNationalHigherEducationStrategic
Plan20072020

Wideningaccessandincreasingequity;
Improvingthequalityofteachingandlearning;
Enhancingresearchandinnovation;
Strengtheningofhighereducationinstitutions;
Intensifyinginternationalisation;
Enculturationoflifelonglearning;and
ReinforcingthedeliverysystemsoftheMinistryof
HigherEducation.

SPECIFICSTATEMENTONGRADUATE
EMPLOYABILITY(MOHESOBJECTIVE#4)

To produce competent graduates to

fulfill national and international
manpower needs with 75% of the
graduates employed in their relevant
fields within six months of their
graduation.

NATIONALDATAONGRADUATEEMPLOYMENT
STATISTICSONGRADUATEPARTICIPATIONINMALAYSIA
LABOURFORCE:DEPT.OFSTATISTICSMALAYSIALABOUR
FORCESURVEY
Ministy ofHumanResourse:ELECTRONICLABOUR
EXCHANGESTATISTICS
STATISTICSONRECENTGRADUATES EMPLOYMENT
STATUS:MOHEONLINEGRADUATESURVEYS(SKPG1&
SKPG11)

Figure 1 : General Population Rate of Unemployment

(SOURCE:DOS)

Figure 2: Rate of Unemployment Among Graduates, (SOURCE:DOS)

Figure 3: Diploma and First Degree Holders Rate of Unemployment,

(SOURCE: DOS)

Figure4:PeriodofUnemploymentforDiplomaand
FirstDegreeHolders(SOURCE:DOS)

BACKGROUND OF MOHE GRADUATE TRACER STUDY

2002

EPU
INITIATED
THE
FIRST
NATIONAL
STUDY
USING
A
STANDARD
AND
UNIFORM
QUESTIONNAIRE
INVOLVING
PUBLIC
UNIVERSITIES
AND
POLYTECHNICS

2003-2005

FOLLOW THROUGH, COORDINATED

BY JABATAN PENGAJIAN TINGGI

2006

REVISED AND STARTED ONLINE

STUDY (SKPG I)

24NOV.,2008
28 JAN.,2009

CARRIED OUT FIRST FOLLOW-UP

STUDY (SKPGII)
11

MAIN PURPOSE OF MOHE GRADUATE

TRACER STUDY SYSTEMS
DATA WAREHOUSE
for continual studies on
graduate jobs, career,
employers..

ROI, Continuous
improvement

Transparency &
Accountability

Planning &
Development of human
capital

Data & Information

from HEI &
Graduates

Feedback on HE
programs

To inform various
stakeholders

12

QUESTIONNAIRE STRUCTURE FOR SKPGI

C

EFFECTIVENESS OF
LEARNING SYSTEM &
READINESS FOR WORK

B
EXPERIENCES
WHILE STUDY

FURTHER STUDY &

LIFELONG LEARNING

E
EMPLOYMENT
STATUS

BACKGROUND
INFO.

F
H
CONSENT &
JOB MATCHING

WORKING
GRADUATE - JOB
RELATED

NOT WORKINGREASONS, ..
13

FOCUS GROUP FOR SKPG1:

All graduates of higher education institutions
(HEI) eligible for convocation
MAIN FOCUS GROUP FOR SKPG11
(24 Nov, 2008):
All respondents of SKPG1 (2006-2008)
14

EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF 20062008 GRADUATES BASED ON

SKPG1 SURVEY

Table1a : Participation and Response Rate

2006
HEI

2007

2008

HEI
No.

Grad.
No.

Resp.
Rate

HEI
No.

Grad.
No.

Resp.
Rate

HEI
No.

Grad.
No.

Resp.
Rate

PUBLIC
UNIVERSITIES

18

93,605

87.7

18

93,953

89.1

18

99,490

89.6

PRIVATE HEI

13

10,639

41.8

71

30,686

36.6

107

40,321

52.2

POLYTECHNICS

18

25,317

77.6

19

28,373

80.0

20

31,300

80.9

COMMUNITY
COLLEGE

34

3,339

62.0

34

4,063

83.9

35

4,346

85.2

1,902

37.7

349

6.9

83

132,900

81.5

147

158,977

76.6

181

175,806

Institute eachers
TOTAL

16

79.2

Figure 5 : Employment Status of Malaysian Graduates (All Levels)

Figure 6 : Unemployed Graduates (All Levels) by Fields of Study

Employment
Scenario of Post
Degree Graduates of
2006-2008

Table 1b: Ph.D. & Masters Graduates of

2006-2008 According to Age Group
Masters
Age Group

2006
2007
(n=4921) (n=6487)

PhD
2008
(n=6536)

2006
(n=239)

2007
(n=372)

2008
(n=428)

21-25

12.2

13.1

12.5

0.3

26-30

36.6

33.1

33.3

10.5

9.9

12.1

31-35

19.5

21.0

21.1

21.9

20.7

20.3

36-40

14.6

15.4

15.1

21.9

22.8

18.7

41 and above

17.1

17.4

18.0

45.7

46.2

48.8

Total(%)

100

100

100

100

100

100

Table2:EmploymentStatusofPostDegree
Graduates
PhD
Employment Status

Masters
2008
2007
(n=653
(n=6573)
6)

2006
(n=273)

2007
(n=373)

2008
(n=428)

2006
(n=5147)

91.6

94.6

96.0

85.3

86.6

88.1

Further Study

1.3

2.6

2.4

1.9

Enhancing skills

0.2

0.2

0.1

Waiting for Job Placement

0.7

0.3

1.2

1.5

1.0

2.6

Not Working

7.7

3.8

2.8

10.4

9.8

7.3

100

100

100

100

100

100

Employed

Total

Table 3: Main Occupation Group of Post Degree

Graduates
2007

2006
Main Occupation Group

2008

Ph.D.
(n=250)

Masters
(n=4355)

Ph.D.
(n=353)

Masters
(n=5691)

Ph.D.
(n=411)

Masters
(n=5755)

Legislator, Senior Official & Managers

9.2

13.0

8.5

14

7.5

15.6

Professionals

89.6

80.8

90.9

80.3

91.0

77

Technician & Associated Professionals

0.4

2.9

0.3

2.6

0.7

3.7

Clerical Workers

0.4

1.7

1.8

2.1

Service & Shop & Market Sales Workers

0.4

1.0

0.7

0.5

1.1

Skilled Agricultural & Fishery Workers

0.5

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.1

Craft & Related Trade Workers

0.1

Plants & Machine Operators and

Assemblers

0.2

0.1

0.2

Elementary Occupations

0.2

0.1

100

100

100

100

100

100

Total

Table 4 : Job Status of Post Degree Graduates

2007

2006
Job Status

2008

Ph.D.
(n=250)

Masters
(n=4386)

Ph.D.
(n=353)

Masters
(n=5691)

Ph.D.
(n=411)

Masters
(n=5755)

Permanent

88.8

83.4

86.4

81.7

86.4

80.3

Contract

8.0

9.8

6.5

10.1

8.0

10.2

Temporary

2.0

4.8

5.4

5.7

3.9

7.3

Self-employed

1.2

1.6

1.1

2.1

1.7

1.9

0.3

0.6

0.3

0.3

100

100

100

100

100

100

Working for family

Total Percent

Table 5: Main Occupation Groups of Post Degree

Graduates
2006

Job Sectors

2007

2008

Ph.D.
(n=250)

Masters
(n=4387)

Ph.D.
(n=353)

Masters
(n=5691)

Ph.D.
(n=411)

Masters
(n=5755)

Government

51.2

47.6

63.5

51.9

54.3

51.6

Statutory Body

25.6

10.3

20.7

9.2

23.1

9.3

Private (multinational/foreign)

7.2

12.1

4.5

10.1

5.1

10.3

Private (Local)

14.4

27.1

10.5

25.1

12.2

19.8

Own firm/Business

1.2

2.2

0.6

2.4

0.7

1.8

Government-linked Company (GLC)

3.4

5.9

Non-governmental Organization
(NGO)

0.2

0.6

0.4

0.8

0.3

1.3

1.0

0.9

100

100

100

100

100

100

Others
Total Percent

Table6:MonthlyIncomeofPostDegreeGraduates
2007

2006
Monthly Income

2008

Ph.D.
(n=250)

Masters
(n=4384)

Ph.D.
(n=353)

Masters
(n=5691)

Ph.D.
(n=411)

Masters
(n=5755)

RM500 and below

0.3

0.4

0.3

RM501 - RM1000

0.8

1.2

0.9

0.8

RM1001 - RM1500

3.4

0.6

3.3

0.5

2.7

RM1500 - RM2000

0.8

11.2

2.0

8.7

2.2

6.3

RM2001 - RM2500

3.2

21.8

2.3

16.6

1.2

13.6

RM2501 - RM3000

10.4

22.1

5.7

20.5

3.9

20.0

44.2

35.6

34.1

38.9

45.3

14.1

58.2

17.5

100

100

100

100

RM3001 - RM5000
RM5001 and above
Total

84.8

40.1

100

100

Employment Scenario of First

Degree Graduates of 2006-2008

Table1c:FirstDegreeGraduates(20062008)
AccordingtoAgeGroup
2006

Age Group

2007

2008

Bil

Bil

Bil

21-25

46,444

81.2

51,163

84.3

58,126

82.0

26-30

4,714

8.2

5,102

8.4

5,750

8.1

31-35

2,335

4.1

1,829

3.0

2,358

3.3

36-40

2,005

3.5

1,412

2.3

2,370

3.3

41 and above

1,666

2.9

1,184

2.0

2,304

3.2

57,164

100

60,690

100

70,908

100

Total

Figure7:EmploymentStatusofFirstDegree
Graduates

Table7:EmploymentStatusofFirstDegreeGraduatesof
2008byFieldsofStudy
Waiting for
Job
Not Working
Placement

Employed

Further
Study

Enhancing
Skills

Arts & Social Science

58.5

4.7

2.5

4.1

30.1

31,347

100

Science

52.7

8.8

0.9

6.8

30.8

11,813

100

Technical

64.5

6.1

0.7

4.3

24.3

13,002

100

IT & Communication

67.4

3.9

2.2

3.8

22.8

5,339

100

Education

51.2

0.8

0.1

44.8

3.2

10,501

100

58.2

5.0

1.6

10.5

24.7

72,002

100

Field of Study

Total

Total

Table8:EmploymentStatusofFirstDegreeGraduatesof
2008(SelectedStudyPrograms)
Study Programs
Accounting
Maritime
Tourism/Hospitality/Food and Beverage

Biotechnology
Dental
Medical
Pharmacy
Aerospace
Architecture
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering/Electronic/
Telecommunication
Mechanical/Mechatronics Engineering

Other Engineering
Computer Science/Information Technology
Total

Employed
(%)

Further
Study
(%)

Enhancing Waiting for Job

Skills
Placement
(%)
(%)

Not
Working
(%)

74.6
24.8
56.9
55.9
52.6
80.9
46.8
57.2
66.5
69.6

4.7
1.0
2.8
9.0
2.3
6.9
10.6
7.1

0.7
1.4
1.8
1.4
0.5
0.7
0.6
0.6

2.4
8.6
3.0
2.8
46.5
7.6
52.2
4.8
2.9
3.0

17.6
64.3
35.6
30.7
0.9
8.7
1.1
30.3
19.4
19.8

4,231

61.0

3.7

0.8

5.5

29.0

3,707

64.4
60.6
67.4
66.6

3.4
7.4
3.9
4.9

0.9
1.1
2.2
1.1

5.1
4.3
3.8
5.1

26.3
26.5
22.8
22.3

3,083

210
503
774
215
1,460
370
145
2,387
2,175

701
5,339
25,300

Figure8:FirstDegreeGraduatesAccordingto FiveMain
OccupationGroups

Table 9: Job Status of First Degree Graduates

2006

2007

2008

Permanent

66.4

62.4

64.2

Contract

18.4

20.2

20.1

Temporary

13.6

15.4

13.8

1.2

1.1

0.7

0.8

0.8

100
(n=27197)

100
(n=32881)

100
(n=41925)

Job Status

Self-employed
Working for family
Total

Figure9:JobSectorsofFirstDegreeGraduates

Table 10: Monthly Income of First Degree

Graduates
2006

2007

2008

RM500 and below

2.9

RM501 - RM1000

14.8

13.4

10

RM1001 - RM1500

21.6

21.4

18

RM1500 - RM2000

31.7

30.1

26.7

RM2001 - RM2500

18.8

17.7

21.6

RM2501 - RM3000

6.2

8.4

11.8

5.2

8.9

0.7
100
(n=32881)

1.1
100
(n=41925)

Monthly Income

RM3001 - RM5000
RM5001 and above
Total(%)

4
100
(n=27192)

Table 11: Preferred Methods of Finding Jobs by

First Degree Graduates
Methods of finding Jobs
Internet
Print Media/advertisement
Electronic media
Campus Counseling/Career Unit
Manpower Department
Employment Agency
Career Fair
Friends/family/lecturers
Offer from the employer during
industrial training/ attachment
Offer from sponsor
Already working before further study
Others
Total Percent

2006

2007

2008

(n=26438)

(n=32881)

n=41921

14.2
20.6
2.5
1.9
1.2
3.0
2.2
32.8

19.3
13.3
2.0
1.4
0.9
2.6
3.2
32.3

21.3
11.3
2.1
1.3
0.7
2.7
3.4
31.0

6.1

5.8

5.9

6.9

3.3

3.5

9.2

11.0

8.7
100.0

6.8
100.0

5.7
100

EMPLOYMENTSCENARIOOF
DIPLOMAHOLDERSOF
20062008

Figure10:EmploymentStatusofDiploma
Graduates

Table 12: Main Occupation Group of Diploma

Graduates
Main Occupation Group

2006
Freq.
%

2007
Freq.
%

2008
Freq.
%

260

2.5

363

2.7

465

2.8

Professionals

1,339

12.7

2,027

15.1

2,380

14.2

Technician & Associated Professionals

3,515

33.4

4,384

32.6

5,515

32.9

Clerical Workers

3,354

31.9

4,152

30.9

5,315

31.7

Service & Shop & Market Sales Workers

1,059

10.1

1,195

8.9

1,951

11.6

88

0.8

153

1.1

154

0.9

0.0

85

0.6

187

1.1

Legislator, Senior Official & Managers

Skilled Agricultural & Fishery Workers

Craft & Related Trade Workers
Plants & Machine Operators and
Assemblers

555

5.3

683

5.1

527

3.1

Elementary Occupations

344

3.3

415

3.1

267

1.6

10,514

100.0

13,457

100

16,761

100

Total

Table 13: Job Status of Diploma Graduates

2006

2007

2008

Job Status
Freq.

Freq.

Freq.

Permanent

6,018

56.8

7,392

54.9

8,932

53.3

Contract

2,110

19.9

2,911

21.6

3,870

23.1

Temporary

2,138

20.2

2,692

20

3,384

20.2

Self-employed

183

1.7

206

1.5

281

1.7

Working for family

154

1.5

256

1.9

294

1.8

10,603

100

13,457

100

16,761

100

Total

Table 14: Job Sectors of Diploma Graduates

Job Sector

2006

2007

2008

Freq.

Freq.

Freq.

1,299

12.4

1,918

14.3

2,442

14.6

469

4.5

687

5.1

863

5.1

Private (multinational/foreign)

2,540

24.2

2,699

20.1

2,667

15.9

Private (Local)

5,304

50.5

6,974

51.8

8,693

51.9

791

7.5

1,005

7.5

1,119

6.7

Government-linked Company (GLC)

345

2.1

Non-governmental Organization (NGO)

398

2.4

95

0.9

174

1.3

234

1.4

10,498

100

13,457

100

16,761

100

Government
Statutory Body

Own firm/Business

Others
Total

Table 15: Monthly Income of Diploma Graduates

Monthly Income

2006

2007

2008

Freq.

Freq.

Freq.

RM500 and below

810

7.6

900

6.7

881

5.3

RM501 - RM1000

4,188

39.5

5,405

40.2

5,738

34.2

RM1001 - RM1500

3,719

35.1

4,711

35.0

6,160

36.8

RM1500 - RM2000

1,215

11.5

1,590

11.8

2,845

17.0

RM2001 - RM2500

324

3.1

442

3.3

742

4.4

RM2501 - RM3000

135

1.3

178

1.3

218

1.3

177

1.3

136

0.8

54

0.4

41

0.2

13,457

100

16,761

100

RM3001 - RM5000
RM5001 and above
Total

202

1.9

10,593

100

SOME STATISTICS OF
GRADUATES
WORKING OVERSEAS

Figure 11: Graduate (2008) Response to the Question: Do you

Accept a Job Position Outside the Country?

Table 16: Graduates of 2008 Working in Malaysia and

Overseas By Level of Studies
2008
Level of Studies

Within Malaysia

Overseas

Total

Post
Graduates

6,119

99.2

47

0.8

6,166

8.5

First Degrees &

Equivalent

42,009

98.0

845

2.0

42,854

58.8

Diploma

16,650

99.3

111

0.7

16,761

23.0

Certificates

7,071

99.7

21

0.3

7,092

9.7

Professional

43

100

43

0.1

71,892

98.6

1,024

1.4

72,916

100

Total

Table 17: Graduates of 2008 Working Overseas By Gender and

Level of Studies
2008
Level of Studies

Male

Female

Total

No

No

No

Postgraduates

22

46.8

25

53.2

47

100

First Degrees & Equivalent

328

38.8

517

61.2

845

100

Diploma

53

47.7

58

52.3

111

100

Certificates

16

76.2

23.8

21

100

419

40.9

605

59.1

1,024

100

Total

Figure 12 : First Degree Graduates Working Overseas By Fields of

Study

Figure 13: Graduates of 2007 & 2008 Working Overseas by

Ethnicity

Figure 14 : Graduates of 2008 Working Overseas by Job

Status

Figure 15 : Graduates of 2008 Working Overseas By Economic

Sector

Table 18: Where Do Graduates Work (Top Ten Countries)

2007 (n =683)

2008 (n=1024)

No

No

No

644

94.3

954

93.2

1,598

93.6

CHINA

1.0

15

1.5

22

1.3

BRUNEI

1.0

14

1.4

21

1.2

UAE

0.7

0.7

12

0.7

INDONESIA

0.3

0.4

0.4

USA

0.4

0.3

0.4

THAILAND

0.1

0.4

0.3

QATAR

0.1

0.4

0.3

AUSTRALIA

0.4

0.1

0.2

JAPAN

0.4

0.2

CAMBODIA

0.3

0.1

0.2

UK

0.3

0.1

Countries
SINGAPORE

Total

CONCLUDINGREMARKS
MOHE Online Graduate Tracer Study (SKPG1) has
proven to be a powerful tool for understanding
graduateemployability,for the developmentofa
comprehensive Malaysian graduate data
warehouse and also for the understanding of the
needsofgraduateemployers
For further understanding on how Malaysian
graduates develop their career over a longer
period and a more comprehensive view of job
marketdynamics,othersystems(suchasSKPG11)
have to be developed for carrying out national
studiesonregularbasis.

THANK YOU
TERIMA KASIH