Don't depend on gig economy too much, deputy HR minister tells youth

Youths, especially SPM holders, are advised against depending too much on the gig economy in building their careers, says Deputy Human Resources Minister Mustapha Sakmud.

He said the gig economy segment provides a source of income, but that the younger generation should not depend on it too much because they do not know how long it will last.

"We do not know how long this gig economy will last. If we look at the current demand for delivery services (e-hailing), for example, it has decreased.

"It is advisable for youths to focus on efforts to obtain certificates such as skills through the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programme and at institutions of higher learning," he told reporters, after officiating an event in Kangar yesterday.
 
Mustapha said many opportunities for further education had been provided by the government and the private sector.

"Don't stop learning. Young people who want to work after SPM can still continue their studies part-time, or on weekends," he said.

He added that from the Jejak TVET data, 95% of youths who participated in TVET programme secured employment or became entrepreneurs.

"The ministry's target is to create a 35% skilled workforce by 2030, but so far we are still at 28%. This is quite worrying because there are not enough skilled workers to achieve developed country status," he said.

He said the ministry was also working to reach the target of signing 50 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with industry players for the national TVET segment by the end of this year.

He said through the MoUs, TVET students would obtain expertise and exposure to the latest technology to meet the needs of today's industry.