02/01/2024 (Malaysia) - Recent trends indicate a notable shift in career interests among Malaysia's Bumiputera community, with emerging professions like influencers offering attractive incomes and drawing attention away from traditional professional fields.
Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Izwan Mahmud from the National University of Malaysia's (UKM) Center for Educational Diversity Studies commented that while this career migration is still in its early stages, the imbalance in professional fields between Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera needs to be addressed. "The career imbalance contributes to economic disparities. We must ensure that the gap between ethnic groups in careers and economy is not too wide, as monopolization of certain careers by a single group can lead to unity issues," he explained to Bernama.
The latest Bumiputera Statistics 2023 report from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) showed Bumiputera participation in careers like architecture (41.2%), law (38.2%), and accounting (31.8%) remains below 50 percent. However, in 2022, Bumiputera made up 92.7 percent in the broader professional field and 83.8 percent in medical assistants and nursing roles.
In addressing this, Dr. Izwan emphasizes the need to cultivate interests from school level and modify university curricula to prepare graduates for future challenges and ensure Bumiputera representation in professional careers. "Early industry placements during studies, a practice seen in several foreign countries, should be adopted to foster student interest," he added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mohd Mursyid Arshad, Associate Professor of Youth Development Education at University Putra Malaysia (UPM), noted that many graduates work in fields unrelated to their academic qualifications due to limited job opportunities. "This situation forces them to survive in any sector, as long as it supports their livelihood," he said.
He highlighted a worrying trend in underemployment among graduates, with figures increasing from 31.2 percent in 2020 to 34.4 percent in 2022. If unresolved, Dr. Mursyid warns this could lead to a brain drain, as young professionals seek better-paying jobs abroad that match their qualifications, exacerbating Malaysia's talent migration issue.