Employability Skills Gap in the Manufacturing Industry

Abbasi, F. K., Ali, A., & Bibi, N. (2018). Analysis of skill gap for business graduates: managerial perspective from banking industry. Education and Training, 60(4), 354–367. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-08-2017-0120
Aliu, J., & Aigbavboa, C. (2023). Key generic skills for employability of built environment graduates. International Journal of Construction Management, 23(3), 542-552. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2021.1894633
Al-Shehab, N., AL-Hashimi, M., Madbouly, A., Reyad, S., & Hamdan, A. (2021). Do employability skills for business graduates meet the employers’ expectations? The case of retail Islamic banks of Bahrain. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 11(2), 349-366.
Anuar, A. R., Wan Mansor, W. N. J., & Din, B. H. (2016). Skills mismatch in small-sized enterprises in Malaysia. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 6(7Special Issue), 120–124.
Arawati, A., Abd Hair, A., Ishak, Y., & Zafir Khan, M. M. (2011). The Gap Analysis of Graduate Employees’ Work Skills in Malaysia. Proceedings of Business and Information, 8(January 2011), 0–15.
Bala, R., & Singh, S. (2023). Employability skills of management students: A study of teacher’s viewpoint. Materials Today: Proceedings, 80, 1727-1730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.05.473|
Behle, H. (2020). Students’ and graduates’ employability. A framework to classify and measure employability gain. Policy reviews in higher education, 4(1), 105-130.
Belderbos, T. (2020). The employability of international branch campus graduates: evidence from Malaysia. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 10(1), 141-154.
BERNAMA. (2024). MALAYSIA’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS AT 3.3 PCT IN JAN 2024 - DOSM. BERNAMA. https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2277286#:~:text=PUTRAJAYA%2C%20March%208%20(Bernama)
Bhatnagar, N. (2020). Employability and skill gap among MBA graduates in India: a literature review. Industrial and Commercial Training. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict-10-2019-0098.
Carlisle, S., Ivanov, S., & Dijkmans, C. (2023). The digital skills divide: evidence from the European tourism industry. Journal of tourism futures, 9(2), 240-266. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-07-2020-0114
Department of Statistics Malaysia (2024). https://storage.dosm.gov.my/labour/lfs_month_2024-06_en.pdf
Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2023). Banci ekonomi. Economiccensus.dosm.gov.my. http://economiccensus.dosm.gov.my/ec2/index.php/en/?option=com_content&view=article&id=659
Department of Statistics of Malaysia. (2019) Labour Force Survey Report, Malaysia, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020, from https://www.dosm.gov.my
Ebekozien, A., Aigbavboa, C. O., Thwala, W. D. D., Aigbedion, M. I., & Ogbaini, I. F. (2023). An appraisal of generic skills for Nigerian built environment professionals in workplace: the unexplored approach. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 21(6), 1841-1856. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-09-2021-0453
FMT Reporters. (2024). Foreign workforce not to blame for unemployed local grads, says minister. Foreign Workforce Not to Blame for Unemployed Local Grads, Says Minister; Freemalaysiatoday. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/03/18/foreign-workforce-not-to-blame-for-unemployed-local-grads-says-minister/
Focacci, C. N., & Perez, C. (2022). The importance of education and training policies in supporting technological revolutions: A comparative and historical analysis of UK, US, Germany, and Sweden (1830–1970). Technology in Society, 70, 102000.
Guàrdia, L., Mancini, F., Jacobetty, P., & Maina, M. (2021). Graduates' employability skills in East Africa. Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 12(2), 169-184.
Hunter, M. (2019, September 10) Malaysia Faces Youth Unemployment Crisis. Malay Mail. https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2019/09/10/malaysia-faces-youth-unemployment-crisis-murray-hunter/1789238
Husaina, K., Azizah, A., & Abdul Rahman, I. (2019). Gaps between competence and importance of employability skills: evidence from Malaysia. Higher Education Evaluation and Development, 1(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1108/HEED-08-2019-0039
Inegbedion, H. E., Thikan, P. R., David, J. O., Ajani, J. O., & Peter, F. O. (2024). Small and medium enterprise (SME) competitiveness and employment creation: the mediating role of SME growth. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-02434-y
Ismail, R., Yussof, I. and Sieng, L. (2011). Employers’ Perceptions on Graduates in Malaysian Services Sector. International Business Management, 5(3), pp.184-193.Retrieved January 15, 2020, from http://file:///C:/Users/hp-pk/Desktop/FYP/mainnnn.pdf
Jackson, D., & Bridgstock, R. (2021). What actually works to enhance graduate employability? The relative value of curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular learning. Higher Education, 81(2), 127-146.
Jackson, D., & Chapman, E. (2012). Non-technical skill gaps in Australian business graduates. Education and Training, 54(2–3), 95–113. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400911211210224
Kamaruzaman, F. M., Hamid, R., Rasul, M. S., & Omar, M. (2024). Addressing Generic Skills Gap for Future Civil Engineers in The 4th Industrial Revolution. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 13(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v13-i1/21159
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. (2024). KPM - Utama. Www.moe.gov.my. https://www.moe.gov.my/
Kenayathulla, H.B., Ahmad, N.A. and Idris, A.R. (2019), "Gaps between competence and importance of employability skills: evidence from Malaysia", Higher Education Evaluation and Development, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 97-112. https://doi.org/10.1108/HEED-08-2019-0039
Kolding, M., Sundblad, M., Alexa, J., Stone, M., Aravopoulou, E., & Evans, G. (2018). Information management – a skills gap? The Bottom Line, 31(3–4), 170–190. https://doi.org/10.1108/BL-09-2018-0037
Labi, A., Richmond, R., & Kenny, M. (2014). Closing the skills gap: companies and colleges collaborating for change. In The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited (Vol. 1). https://doi.org/10.1021/cen-09024-empl
Latif, L. A. (2014). Employability Skills: Closing the Gap Between Employers’ Expectations and Satisfaction. Seminar Kebangsaan Pembelajaran Sepanjang Hayat, 1(1), 51–62.
Lee, H. A. (2023). Malaysia’s New Economic Policy and affirmative action: A remedy in need of a rethink. In Handbook on economics of discrimination and affirmative action (pp. 819-839). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
Lumina Foundation. (2023, August 30). Higher education linked to greater wellbeing, job fit and societal progress. Lumina Foundation. https://www.luminafoundation.org
Mainga, W., Murphy-Braynen, M. B., Moxey, R., & Quddus, S. A. (2022). Graduate employability of business students. Administrative Sciences, 12(3), 72.
Manjunath, P. S., Shravan, M. B., & B, D. B. (2019). A Study on Assessment of Skill Gap to Enhance Workforce. International Journal of Management, IX (April).
McGuinness, S., & Ortiz, L. (2016). Skill gaps in the workplace: measurement, determinants and impacts. Industrial Relations Journal, 47(3), 253–278. https://doi.org/10.1111/irj.12136
Migdad, A. M., & Babangida, H. A. (2022). The Malaysian Political Economy: Economic Transformation & the Expansion of Islamic Economics. Islamic Economics Journal, 8(2), 146-171.
Mohd Ibrahim, D., and Mahyuddin, M. (2017). The State of Youth Unemployment and Increasing Concerns over Graduate Unemployment in Malaysia. [online] Youth Unemployment in Malaysia: Developments and Policy Considerations. Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.bnm.gov.my/files/publication/ar/en/2016/cp04_003_box.pdf
Moldovan, L. (2019). State-of-the-art Analysis on the Knowledge and Skills Gaps on the Topic of Industry 4.0 and the Requirements for Work-based Learning. Procedia Manufacturing, 32, 294–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2019.02.217
Moo, K. H., & Da Wan, C. (2023). Graduate Employability in Malaysia: Unpacking the Concept, Policy and Practices. IIUM Journal of Educational Studies, 11(2), 3-25.
Moo, K. H., & Wan, C. D. (2023). Graduate Employability in Malaysia: Unpacking the Concept, Policy and Practices. IIUM Journal of Educational Studies, 11(2), 3–25.
Nadarajah, J. (2021). Measuring The Gap In Employability Skills Among Malaysian Graduates. International Journal of Modern Trends in Social Sciences. 4. 81-87. 10.35631/IJMTSS.415007.
Okolie, U. C., Igwe, P. A., Nwosu, H. E., Eneje, B. C., & Mlanga, S. (2020). Enhancing graduate employability: Why do higher education institutions have problems with teaching generic skills?. Policy Futures in Education, 18(2), 294-313.
Pew Research Center. (2023, August 30). Is a college degree worth it in 2024? Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org
Rafikul Islam, M. S. A. H. and N. H. A. M. (2013). Enhancing Graduates’ Employability Skills: A Malaysian Case. Enhancing Graduates ‘employability Skills: A Malaysian Case. In: Academy of International Business (MENA): Third Annual Conference 2013, 12-14 January, 2013, Cairo, Egypt., 1–17.
Rahman, S., Mokhtar, S. B., Mohd Yasin, R., & Mohd Hamzah, M. I. (2011). Generic skills among technical students in Malaysia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 3713–3717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.04.361
Rikala, P., Braun, G., Järvinen, M., Stahre, J., & Hämäläinen, R. (2024). Understanding and measuring skill gaps in Industry 4.0—A review. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 201, 123206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123206
Salina, D., Nurazariah, A., Noraina Mazuin, S., & Jegatheesan, R. (2011). Enhancing university business curriculum using importance-performance approach: a case study of Business Management Faculty of a university in Malaysia. International Journal of Educational Management, 25(6): 1- 21.
Salleh, K. M., Subhi, N. I., Sulaiman, N. L., & Latif, A. A. (2016). Generic skills of technical undergraduates and industrial employer’s perceptions in Malaysia. International Journal of Applied Business and Economic Research, 14(14), 907–919
Sangar, S. (2022). Bridging the skills gap in post-coronavirus Britain through role-relevant qualifications. Strategic HR Review, 21(3), 74-77. https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-11-2021-0051
Seetha, N. (2014). Are Soft Skills Important in the Workplace? A Preliminary Investigation in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 4(4), 44–56. https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v4-i4/751
Selvadurai, S., Choy, E. A., & Maros, M. (2012). Generic skills of prospective graduates from the employers’ perspectives. Asian Social Science, 8(12), 295–303. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v8n12p295
Siddique, M., & Abdullah, A. (2024). SMEs, Employment Generation, and Islamic Finance. International Journal of Islamic Economics and Finance, 7(1), 433–454. https://doi.org/10.18196/ijief.v7i1.18632
Sims, R. R. (2023). Human Resource (Talent) Development. IAP.
Dubey, R., & Tiwari, V. (2019). Operationalisation of soft skill attributes and determining the existing gap in novice ICT professionals. International Journal of Information Management, 50(September 2019), 375–386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2019.09.006
SME Corporation Malaysia. (2023). FALSAFAH KORPORAT. https://www.smecorp.gov.my/images/AnnualReport/2022/SME%20CORP.%20ANNUAL%20REPORT%202022.pdf
SME Corporation Malaysia. (2024) SME Annual Report 2018/19. Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.smecorp.gov.my.
Subaashnii, S., Siew, P. H. K., & Ainara, G. (2019). An employability assessment of fresh business graduates in Kuala Lumpur from the perspective of employers. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering, 7(5), 307–317.
Succi, C., & Canovi, M. (2020). Soft skills to enhance graduate employability: Comparing students and employers’ perceptions. Studies in Higher Education, 45(9), 1834-1847.
Tan, L. M., Laswad, F., & Chua, F. (2022). Bridging the employability skills gap: going beyond classroom walls. Pacific Accounting Review, 34(2), 225-248.
The Word Bank (2015). Malaysia: Filling the Skills Gap to Meet the Demands of a Growing Economy. (2015, July 20). Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.worldbank.org.
Thompson, M., & Lee, R. (2023). Soft skills and employment outcomes: Insights from recent graduate surveys. Career Development Quarterly, 71(2), 105-123. https://doi.org/10.1002/cdq.12345
Tran, L. H. N. (2018). Game of blames: Higher education stakeholders’ perceptions of causes of Vietnamese graduates’ skills gap. International Journal of Educational Development, 62(July), 302–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2018.07.005
Ravenswaaij, H., Meulen-de Jong, S., Kleijn, R. A., Dilaver, G., Schaaf, M. F., & Rijen, H. V. (2024). Entry-level career paths in the life sciences: generic skills in Dutch job postings. International Journal of Science Education, 46(8), 795-814. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2023.2259568
Weel-Baumgarten, E., Bolhuis, S., Rosenbaum, M., & Silverman, J. (2013). Bridging the gap: How is integrating communication skills with medical content throughout the curriculum valued by students? Patient Education and Counseling, 90(2), 177–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2012.12.004
Zuluaga, S. M. (2024). Employability skills in engineering from the perspective of three interest groups. Industry and Higher Education, 09504222241247808. https://doi-org.tarc.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/09504222241247808
Yong, B. P. P., & Ling, Y. L. (2023). Skills gap: The importance of soft skills in graduate employability as perceived by employers and graduates. Online Journal for TVET Practitioners, 8(1), 25-42.
Zabeda, A. H. (2009). Enhancing graduate employability through knowledge management. In Munir, Shukran & Morshidi (Eds.), Strengthening higher education for a successful workforce. Kuala Lumpur: IIUM Press International Islamic University Malaysia.
Yusof, Z., & Bhattasali, D. (2008). Alms and the man. In Economic Growth and Development in Malaysia: Policy Making and Leadership (Vol. 27). https://doi.org/10.5744/florida/9780813044989.003.0004
Zarifa, D., Seward, B., & Milian, R. P. (2019). Location, location, location: Examining the rural-urban skills gap in Canada. Journal of Rural Studies, 72(October 2018), 252–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.10.032

Vijayakumaran, N., Nathan, S. O., Nagarathanam, R., Koh, H. P., & Manalan, T. (2025). Employability Skills Gap in the Manufacturing Industry. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(1), 620–634.

Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode