Graduates hopeful CSPS study will give employment solution

UNIVERSITY graduates are looking forward to the "University Graduates and Employment" survey study conducted by the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) to provide solutions for graduate unemployment problems.

Syaza HSA, 23, believes the survey can show a trend of popular job positions, jobs that are lacking expertise and reasons why graduates remain jobless after months and even years, of completing their education.

"We can see from the study results what kind of jobs graduates flock towards and what jobs need more expertise, perhaps universities can introduce more courses to cater to those professions," she said.

Currently an engineer at Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), Syaza said it was not easy to get a job in Brunei. Having graduated in December 2008, she spent six months without a job before she finally landed herself a position at BSP.

"I think graduates being picky could be a reason why the unemployment rates are high," she told The Brunei Times in a phone interview.

"They finish school with a degree, they wouldn't want to work a low-paying job... I have to admit I'm like that as well," she said adding that she only applied to BSP and got lucky.

"I feel that you can see it from two different perspectives the ones that remain jobless are mostly those who are waiting for popular career like teaching," said Koh Chein Yun, who completed her studies last year and is doing an internship in New Zealand.

"Also, some of the students are very talented in art, music but these job opportunities in Brunei is limited which may put these graduates at (a) disadvantage," Koh said of job availability in the country.

Graduates need to change their mindset, Hj Hisyam Hj Yassin, 24, said.

"Usually it takes five or six months or maybe a year to get the job so in the mean time, it is ok to work at private sectors, even if the salary is a bit low," said Hj Hisyam, who graduated from Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) and is currently doing an apprenticeship at BSP.

Most graduates also feel there is a lack of jobs in the Sultanate and that the increase in the pension age could be a problem for "new-comers" into the professional world.

The extension of pension age from 55 to 60, could have affected the opportunities of fresh graduates entering a company, Syaza said.

This echoes the thoughts of Ahmad Jauzi Zulkipli, 25, who recently completed his studies from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD): "With the new retirement age, the unemployed will have to wait for the employed to retire just to secure a job," he said.

The 25-year-old added that he has only applied for a relief (temporary) teacher position and is waiting for the next step of the employment process.

Although graduates feel the "University Graduates and Employment" survey will provide answers to their unemployment problems, further actions need to be done with the survey results in order for it to be of any help to the current unemployment problems in Brunei, Haslinda Syazwana Hj Alim, 24, said.

"If nothing is done, the statistics will remain as numbers... it will mean nothing," said the 24-year-old who graduated last year.

She has been facing difficulties securing a permanent job and is currently doing volunteer work for the upcoming Brunei Darussalam International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Bridex).

The Brunei Times