LETTERS: Skills mismatch is a discrepancy between the skills sought by employers and the skills possessed by the individual.
The problem is that the country's education and training systems are not providing the skills the labour market demands or the economy is not creating jobs that correspond to the skills of the individual.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, public and private universities, colleges and polytechnics must create and disseminate new knowledge and collaborate with the industry.
The curriculum and teaching methodology of the education system must be transformed, while on-the-job training and apprenticeship programmes must be intensified.
Longer practical experience will expose students to higher-order thinking skills that are useful in a competitive job market.
The skills of our workforce must be updated with research and development and innovation collaboration (R&D&I) and industry-based learning approaches.
Business and technical expertise will close the gaps when workers lose their skill over time due to lack of use.
The Human Resources Ministry must take action to match the skills of the individual to the requirements of the industry.
Rapid globalisation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution mean more digital jobs are being created, and jobseekers must be highly skilled, adaptive and resilient with a good command of English and Bahasa Malaysia.
C. SATHASIVAM SITHERAVELLU
Seremban, Negri Sembilan
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times