The reality of life today is that a bachelor's degree is no longer a guarantee or 'ticket' for a graduate to easily step into the world of work.
After years of straining and working hard for a piece of scroll, many have had to face the blow of reality when the waiting period for a job call has become longer, and some have even had to work in fields that are completely unrelated to the field they studied in the ivory tower.
The shift in the industrial landscape driven by the speed of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and the increasingly intense competition have changed the criteria for selecting employers, where the value of a candidate is now measured more through practical skills, a strong portfolio and the ability to adapt quickly than the name of the university on the certificate.
Although a degree still has its own importance, this current situation clearly raises big questions about the extent to which the existing education system and employment ecosystem are truly fair in providing space and opportunities for fresh grads to build their future.
Here is a list of fields that are increasingly less likely to find a place in the industry in the future;
1. Mass Communication (25% – 35%)
The Mass Communication field has an unemployment rate of around 25% to 35% due to the overflow of graduates in this field. At the same time, job opportunities in the media industry are shrinking.
Technological developments and the use of AI have also had a major impact when much content can now be produced automatically without the need for human labor, including videos and basic content writing.
2. Graphic Design (20% – 30%)
This field also has an unemployment rate of between 20% to 30% due to high competition and technological changes.
AI is now able to produce designs faster than humans, thus changing the needs of the industry. In addition, many companies are more inclined to hire freelancers at lower costs to save expenses.
The main factor in this industry is no longer just a certificate, but a portfolio and real skills.
3. Business (15% – 25%)
The Business field has an unemployment rate of around 15% to 25% due to the large number of graduates and the very general nature of the field.
Many graduates end up taking jobs outside their field or at low wages due to the high competition in the job market.
4. Biotechnology (25% – 40%)
The Biotechnology field records an unemployment rate of between 25% to 40%, among the highest.
This is due to limited job opportunities in Malaysia, with many related companies more concentrated overseas such as the United States, Singapore and Europe.
Most employers also prioritize experienced candidates over fresh graduates.
5. Psychology (20% – 35%)
The Psychology field records an unemployment rate of around 20% to 35%.
Many employers believe that a bachelor's degree alone is not enough, instead requiring at least a Master's or PhD level for a professional career in this field.
Due to these strict requirements, many graduates move into other fields such as HR, administration or customer service.
6. Tourism & Hospitality (20% – 30%)
This field records an unemployment rate of between 20% to 30% due to industry uncertainty.
Low salaries and shift work hours are the main factors that many graduates do not stay long in this field and move on to other sectors.
7. Animation / Multimedia (20% – 30%)
The Animation and Multimedia fields also record an unemployment rate of around 20% to 30% due to very high competition.
The development of AI that is capable of producing video and graphic editing has also increased the pressure on graduates in this creative field.
8. Social Sciences (25% – 35%)
The Social Sciences field records an unemployment rate of between 25% to 35%, among the highest on the list.
The lack of specific job opportunities has caused many graduates to work in sectors that are not related to their field of study.
