Sabah Government Emphasizes Importance of TVET in Equipping Youth for Competitive Job Market

Strategic Insights -

The Sabah government is committed to strengthening the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem to ensure the youth of Sabah remain competitive in the job market and are no longer trapped in unemployment. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor stated that TVET is no longer an option but a mainstream choice in producing a skilled workforce that can shape Sabah's future. The establishment of the Sabah TVET Council in May this year marked a significant shift in the state's TVET development landscape. The Sabah government recognizes the importance of technical and vocational skills in driving the state's development, particularly in sectors like natural resources, oil and gas, agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. The Chief Minister urged the youth to view TVET as a primary choice, not an alternative, when planning their future, emphasizing that TVET can produce future professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Sabah government has fully supported efforts to strengthen the TVET ecosystem, emphasizing its importance in producing a skilled workforce for the state's future.
  • TVET is not just an option, but a mainstream choice in efforts to equip individuals with technical skills, empowers them, creates job opportunities, and serves as a catalyst for the state's economic growth.
  • The state government recognizes that technical and vocational skills form the backbone of Sabah's development, particularly in sectors with rich potential such as natural resources, oil and gas, agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing.
  • The Chief Minister urged the youth to view TVET as a primary choice, not an alternative, when planning their future, highlighting its potential to produce future professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
  • Sabah's youth must seize the opportunity to participate in TVET programmes, as the courses offered are aligned with current job market demands, ensuring the marketability of graduates.
  • Skills in technical fields, automation, and artificial intelligence are highly valuable assets in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) and the rapid wave of digitalisation.
  • TVET is the best platform to develop a highly skilled workforce that can drive Sabah's progress, with the government's commitment to human capital development reflected through various initiatives and strategic investments.
  • The state's unemployment rate has decreased from 8.2 per cent in 2021 to 7.5 per cent in 2023, with encouraging indicators of the effectiveness of economic and human capital development initiatives.
  • However, challenges remain, with youth aged 15 to 24 accounting for more than half (58.6 per cent) of the state's total unemployed, and 55.8 per cent of unemployed individuals possessing only secondary school qualifications.

Statistics:

  • Sabah's unemployment rate decreased from 8.2 per cent in 2021 to 7.5 per cent in 2023.
  • Youth aged 15 to 24 accounted for 58.6 per cent of Sabah's total unemployed.
  • 55.8 per cent of unemployed individuals in Sabah possessed only secondary school qualifications.

Sources:

  • BERNAMA News Agency (09 Jul 2025)
  • The text of the Chief Minister's speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
  • Department of Statistics (no date mentioned)