As management educator, I heard from my former students who just graduated from college and university, lamented that they are competing with many job applicants who have more years of work experience than them even for junior positions. I realized while young jobseekers has been “particularly hard hit”, the challenging labor market was impacting all age groups. I am aware many of my students are having to cast a wider net and consider even more junior roles regardless of their talents, competence and knowledge to secure work. That increase competition for entry-level roles could disadvantage our young people, who may lack relevant work experience.
As a Court of Fellow & former President of the Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management (MIHRM), I cautioned employers should be aware of this context but evaluate all candidates for entry-level roles using objectives, consistent criteria that are directly applicable to the role. Even experienced workers have been hit hard by the prolonged downturn in permanent vacancies, while the cost of living crisis has also encouraged some to return to work. Others are simply looking for a role that offer more flexibility or less responsibility. I know more experienced candidates will often be viewed as “lower risk hire” for employers, because they are bringing professionalism and work-life experience to the role and usually requiring less training.
Evidently, I followed the media interview by National Wages Consultative Council Member, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Anuwar Ali, the former Vice Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, who said that “About 20 years ago, fresh graduates with a bachelor's degree could start their careers with a salary of around RM3,500 a month. Due to an increasing number of graduates in the job market, starting salaries are nearing the minimum wage rate. In fact, some graduates only receive between RM2,000 and RM2,500 a month. The universities must ensure the creation of more high-quality graduates.”
Professor Tan Sri Anuwar, an eminent Malaysian economist, who had served UNIDO suggested that “Local industries must step up through technology adoption, innovation and productivity growth, mirroring developed nations such as South Korea. In the 1960s, South Korea's development level was not much different from Malaysia. Today they are far more advanced because they successfully developed competitive, technology-driven local industries.”
Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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