Thematic Analysis on Malaysian Graduates Employability in Post Covid-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had extensive repercussions on education systems, career trajectories, and employment opportunities, with profound implications for individuals, communities, and global economies. In this context, graduate employability has become a critical concern. Malaysia’s distinctive socio-economic landscape presents a compelling setting for examining the challenges and opportunities faced by graduates seeking stable and meaningful employment in the post-pandemic period. This study employs a thematic analysis approach to examine the employability experiences of recent Malaysian graduates. Insights are drawn from a focused review of relevant literature and survey data capturing graduates’ employment dynamics during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the study empirically validates the key employment themes conceptualized through survey of graduates as respondents to strengthen the robustness of the findings. The findings indicate that Malaysian graduates encounter significant employability challenges in the post-COVID-19 labor market, driven by shifting employment structures and evolving skill requirements. The results highlight the critical importance of graduates’ innovative career exploration, adaptability, and self-awareness of changing labor market trends as essential factors for improving employability outcomes. The study emphasizes the need for tailored employability strategies that reflect the specific socio-economic conditions of Malaysia. The findings offer valuable implications for policymakers, higher education institutions, and graduates in developing targeted interventions to enhance graduate employability in an evolving post-pandemic job market.