UTM: Strong Demand For Skilled Graduates Reflects Industry Needs

KUALA LUMPUR,  June 16 (Bernama) -- Growing demand for highly skilled workers indicates that unemployment statistics do not necessarily reflect the marketability of graduates from higher education institutions.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) Prof Dr Ali Selamat said unemployment statistics should be viewed in a broader context as they encompass individuals from various educational backgrounds, age groups and employment status.

He said perceptions that job opportunities are dwindling, or that it is more difficult for graduates to secure employment, should be assessed in the context of the current labour market and national economic development.

“The country’s economic development continues to generate demand for highly skilled workers in various strategic sectors.

“Therefore, the issue at hand is not simply a lack of job opportunities, but the need to ensure that the workforce has the right skills to meet industry needs,” he said in a statemtent today.

According to Ali, sectors such as technology, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, data centres, renewable energy, the digital economy and high-tech manufacturing are growing rapidly, creating strong demand for skilled and knowledgeable workers.

He said this development is in line with the country’s economic transformation towards a technology-, innovation- and high value-added-based economy.

Meanwhile, Ali said UTM’s continuous efforts to strengthen talent development and industry collaboration have yielded positive results, with the majority of its graduates successfully securing employment after graduation.

“More significantly, 84.7 per cent of UTM’s local graduates who are employed are in highly skilled professional, technical and management positions, which are key drivers of the country’s economic growth,” he said.

He said the achievement reflects the alignment of graduates’ skills with industry needs, as well as changes in the country’s economic structure.

To further enhance graduate marketability, UTM organised the UTM Premium Career Festival 2026 on 14 and 15 April, bringing together 75 employers, comprising 52 multinational companies and 23 local companies, with more than 2,330 job opportunities offered to students and graduates.

Ali said the participation of leading companies in the programme demonstrates that industry demand for quality and highly skilled graduates remains strong, particularly in the technology, engineering, digital and high-tech manufacturing sectors.

He said UTM would continue to strengthen strategic collaboration with industry through various talent development initiatives, including industrial training, professional certification and mentoring programmes, to ensure graduates meet current labour market needs.

According to him, lifelong learning, skills development and mastery of digital technology have become key factors influencing graduates’ competitiveness in a highly competitive job market.

-- BERNAMA