Minister: Malaysia’s youth unemployment lower than Austrialia, NZ

PARLIAMENT | The youth unemployment rate in Malaysia is lower than that of New Zealand and Australia, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh said the rate of unemployment of 15-24-year-olds in Malaysia was at 12.4 percent, compared to 12.5 percent in Australia, 14 percent in New Zealand, 13.5 percent in the Philippines and 19 percent in Indonesia.

“The rate of marketability of graduates in this country is 79.1 percent,” he said when replying to a supplementary question from Fong Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang).

Fong had also asked whether the courses at institutions of higher learning in the country would be revised to suit market demands, as he felt that current marketability was still unsatisfactory.

Idris said the success in marketability was achieved through the collaboration of the ministry with industries in ensuring there was no separation between academia and industries, thus generating graduates who met the expectations of the industries.

“I meet industry representatives and ask them their requirements. We have a flexible curriculum. I believe that with such close cooperation, we can enhance marketability,” he said.

- Bernama