Strategies in Enhancing the Employability of Fresh Graduates in The Malaysian Construction Industry During Pandemic Outbreak

Abstract

The construction sector plays a dominant role in providing job opportunities not only for the construction sector but also for other related sectors directly around the world. Abruptly, during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the construction industry has to limit their activities, causing workers from professional to site labour and other related workers to lose their work in the industry. The estimated unemployment rate is very worrying among fresh graduates and students about to graduate from construction-related programs as there is no way construction can be done virtually. Therefore, the aim of this study is to suggest strategies in enhancing the employability among fresh graduates in the Malaysian construction industry during the pandemic outbreak. Questionnaire survey were distributed to 217 respondents with 73% of questionnaire returned rate. The results were analysed using SPSS descriptive analysis. Based on the analysis, respondent agreed that the main strategies were to enhance the soft skills set, followed by graduates' attributes such as willingness to learn, undergo training, and have a mental readiness mindset as strategies to get employment during the hardest time and lastly improving curriculum design also has been determined as strategies that contributed to the employability of fresh graduates.