DIGITAL and communication skills have been identified as the main technical and transversal skills needed by graduates.
Penang Institute socioeconomics and statistics programme head Ong Wooi Leng said digital literacy and communication skills are important not only for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) graduates, but for non-STEM graduates too.
“Most employers responded that majority of fresh graduates lack soft skills. It was highlighted when we asked them about the graduate competencies and the employers’ requirements,” she said during her presentation at the Penang Socio Economic Recovery Consultative Council (PSERCC) meeting yesterday evening.
She added that majority of the graduates were aware about the need to upskill themselves.
“When we asked the graduates about the measures that the Government could do to improve employment opportunities for the graduates, they said that the Government should increase more job opportunities in Penang.
“Among other measures proposed were better salary and more up-skilling and re-skilling programmes.
“Meanwhile, most employers mentioned the importance of digital infrastructure and liveable environment to attract and retain talents,” she added.
Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy said graduate employment is an issue that needs to be addressed.
“I think we have to look into the quality of university graduates.
“Why are they not getting jobs? And if they are getting jobs, they are underpaid or being paid salaries that do not commensurate with their qualification,” he said.
Northern Corridor Implementation Agency (NCIA) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John spoke about the Talent Enhancement Programme (NTEP@NCER) aimed at encouraging companies to employ fresh graduates and provide them with adequate training.
Meanwhile, Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin highlighted the challenges of the hotel industry.
“The hotel industry is facing shortage of workers. There has been a migration of workers from the hotel industry to the manufacturing industry.
“This has caused a shortage of staff in the hotel industry, particularly in the housekeeping services.
“This scenario has led to some hotels operating below capacity now.
“Even the general managers of hotels had to do housekeeping and cleaning services.
“Most hotels lay off their workers during the lockdown period. The workers might have migrated to the manufacturing industry, in particular the Electrical and Electronics (E&E) industry,” he said, adding that some former hotel staff were reluctant to return to the hotel industry due to its insecurity.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said it is time for Penang to move forward, since the state has entered Phase Three of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) on Oct 18.
“This means that more economic sectors are allowed to open.
“Please bear in mind that the opening of more sectors are being allowed after considering the country’s economy and not because we are safe from Covid-19.
“Hence, it is our responsibility to break the Covid-19 infection chain to allow the economic sectors to operate at optimum level,” Chow said.
Other state executive council members – Zairil Khir Johari, Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain and Dr Norlela Ariffin – also presented their ideas and projects during the meeting.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad