Abstract

Skilled graduate unemployment remains a concern within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), particularly where graduates’ competencies and qualifications do not fully correspond with labour market requirements. This study aimed to identify and prioritise the perceived root causes of unemployment among skilled TVET graduates in Malaysia. An exploratory qualitative design was employed using the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) with 11 purposively selected postgraduate students enrolled in a Curriculum Design in TVET course at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Participants generated, discussed, consolidated, and ranked potential root causes through a structured NGT process. The findings identified 11 root cause categories, with lack of employability skills receiving the highest cumulative score (107), followed by mismatched credentialing (100), lack of soft skills development (83), and difficulty obtaining initial work experience (82). Other identified factors included insufficient practical experience and internships, institutional disconnect, misalignment between manpower planning and educational output, outdated curriculum, industry preference for professional certification, and unrealistic salary expectations. The findings indicate that TVET graduate unemployment is influenced by both graduate level and systemic factors, particularly gaps in employability skills, industry-relevant competencies, practical exposure, curriculum relevance, and education labour market alignment. The study highlights the need for curriculum renewal, stronger work-based learning, closer industry engagement, and improved coordination within the TVET ecosystem to support graduates’ transition into employment.