As much as 36 percent of Malaysian fresh graduates quit their jobs in their first year, according to recent survey by online employment portal Monster.com. There are various reasons that prod fresh grads to leave the workforce, ranging from the lack of job satisfaction to pursuing better prospects and salaries.

According to the study, 74 percent left their jobs because they felt unhappy with the lack of progress, while the other 43 percent wanted better wages. Some fresh grads feel that with the pay they receive from their jobs, it just was not worth it to live and survive in Kuala Lumpur.

Regarding to this matter, Malaysian Employers’ Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said that fresh graduates quit their jobs within a year owing to the fact that they still struggle to get used to the work environment as well as trying to settle into a career. These days, many degree holders do not have to get work in the same fields they studied in schools, so employers have to spend money and time to train the new hires, he said.

Mr Shamsuddin added, “It involves money and time to train them but in the end, they still quit. The companies incur losses, having to hire new people and train them again. Because of this, employers will have to see how they can retain the graduates.”

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The survey also found that 58 percent fresh grads used their first jobs as a stepping stone to pursue future careers, while 24 percent said they struggled with a lack of guidance in their jobs, and 22 percent said their employers were the problem. Additionally, 21 percent graduates felt that they deserved better salaries, and 20 percent felt they were unprepared to enter the working world, Today Online reports.

On the other hand, 80 percent employers surveyed said that they have provided sufficient support to help fresh graduates succeed in their jobs.

Mr Shamsuddin said that employers need to inform new recruits about career prospects and the company’s current status and future. Only when they can assure the new hires that they will be promoted at a certain stage, fresh grads will be motivated to stay. However, the problem is not only with the employers, given that all parties including staff and institutions of higher learning must be aware of changing job market trends.

“Things were not this bad in previous years. Ten years ago, the resignation rate among fresh grads in their first working year was about 2 per cent a month or around 20 per cent annually. Today, the rate is 3 per cent a month or 36 per cent a year,” he added.

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