New state govt urged to handle the problem with unemployed youths

KOTA KINABALU: The new state government is urged to handle the problem of unemployed youths with university degrees that could be due to a mismatch between demand and supply in the employment market.

Institute of Development Studies ( IDS) chairman Tan Sri Simon Sipaun said this was one of the aspects that the State Education and Innovation sector could look into as graduate unemployment was a significant factor for the rising trend in youth unemployment.

He said last year Sabah recorded the highest youth unemployment at 13.5 per cent and these days a graduate was synonymous with unemployment.

“At the same time, I notice that many of those employed as domestic helpers, shop assistants, plantation workers are foreigners, so job opportunities are available, but local workers are not attracted especially the degree holders,” he said during a Seminar on “Youth Unemployment: Entrepreneurship as a valuable alternative source of job creation and economic dynamism for youths in Sabah” here yesterday.

The seminar was officiated by Senior Assistant Secretary representing the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dayang Mas Safiah Mahali.

Simon hoped under the new federal and state governments the legitimate demands of Sabah and its people would be justly considered. — Bernama