Govt says needs more science graduates, graduates say no one is hiring us
The government keeps saying that there is a lack of science graduates in Malaysia.
Last year Higher Education Department director-general Datin Paduka Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir announced that Malaysia needs 500,000 scientists and engineers by 2020.
Then, more recently, Harian Metro released a report which stated that the country needs more science graduates. The report was highlighted on Twitter by a molecular biology graduate who is currently working in a non-scientific industry.
I am an unemployed and unused molecular biologist.
Nobody wants to hire me. https://t.co/UFNhsecDdl
— Jimmy_bibliophile (@najmihesnen) June 15, 2019
Garnering over 13,000 retweets, @najmihesnen’s tweet is a sad reminder of the reality for science graduates in Malaysia – we aren’t able to get good paying jobs and we are left taking whatever positions are available in any industry to be able to financially support ourselves.
@najmihesnen clearly isn’t the only one in this predicament. There are many qualified scientists in Malaysia but not enough positions for us.
We have thousands of graduated students in Science & Tech related major and almost all of them is unemployed/working in a totally different field sb industry wont hire them. And they have the gut to say we needs more Pakar Sains & Tech when yg skrg pun masih terkapai2 cri keja.
— Christino (@Christinope) June 16, 2019
Exactly! I am a biologist no one wanna hire me!
— Calvin Charles (@CalvinCharlesEd) June 15, 2019
Same here. I am an unemployed and unused marine biologist.
Damn hard to find that kind of job in malaysia
— Zaa (@zaa_fira) June 16, 2019
These headlines are very frustrating for local science grads who are unable to get a good job in the industry.
I have a cousin who have nuclear science degree from UKM. Hard to find job suitable to her qualification locally. Gave up and become housewife.
— Shahrul Yusof (@Sylarius) June 16, 2019
Perlukan lebih banyak saintis? Habis kami graduan sains yang grad bahagian research ni buat apa dibiar begitu sahaja? Lepas tu suruh kami kerja luar bidang buat apa? Lepas tu kata kami memilih kerja?
— Amirul Asyraf (@ami_raf) June 16, 2019
I just gonna put it here. I have gone to interviews but to no avail. At the end I just have to take the job available which is not my field because I need to sustain myself.
I am currently a Lantikan Simpanan for C41 and expiring next January.
And then. Repeat.
— Jimmy_bibliophile (@najmihesnen) June 16, 2019
After the overwhelming response he got, @najmijesnen decided to post a poll to find out whether or not the majority of science grads are actually having a tough time looking for work within the industry. At the time of writing, majority of those who took part in the poll (40% of 1,080 participants) voted that they are currently employed outside of the scientific industry.
Alang2 tu nak tanya, yang dalam bidang sains ni korang tengah buat apa sekarang? Curious jugak betul ke ramai yang tak dapat kerja dlm bidang.
— Jimmy_bibliophile (@najmihesnen) June 16, 2019
Are you a graduate of scientific studies? Where are you working now? Let us know in the comments!
Cc to Ministers: if you are wondering where all the brains which haven’t left country, we are here in call centers and retail centers. Drop by nearest 7E and you might find a marine biologist.
— Jimmy_bibliophile (@najmihesnen) June 16, 2019
