Many young workers over educated for their jobs — Report

KUALA LUMPUR: Many young workers today appear to have no choice but to accept inferior forms of employment compared with their education level or skills training.

Khazanah National Berhad’s “School to Work Transition Survey” report launched by its Managing Director Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan here yesterday, revealed this mismatch.

The report said that 95 percent of those in unskilled jobs and 50 percent of those in low-skilled manual jobs are over- qualified for their jobs.

“These over-educated young people are likely to earn less than they otherwise could have and are not making the most of their productive potential.

“Not only do the skill mismatches signify wastage of human resources but they also put into question the view often expressed in the media that youth are `choosy’ about jobs.

They should not be considered `choosy’ if they are doing jobs below what they are educated and trained for,” the statement said.

However, it said that the undereducation of young workers would have a negative impact on worker productivity and have a negative impact more personally on their sense of security.

The statement also said the current jobs of the young workers were not something that they preferred and were mismatched with the education.

For example, of those with qualifications in science, mathematics and computing, 25 percent prefer ITrelated jobs but only 17 percent are actually in such jobs. — Bernama