KUALA LUMPUR - Bernama reported, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is no longer seen as a second option, as strong demand from industries, especially in critical fields such as aircraft and vehicle maintenance, reshapes the country’s job market.

The shift is driven by employers who now prioritise practical skills and specialised training alongside theoretical knowledge to meet complex industry needs.

Advance Technology Training Centre (ADTEC) Shah Alam aviation division lecturer and quality manager, Ahmad Zulhisham Abdul Wahab said TVET graduate employability continues to rise each year, showing the sector’s growing relevance.

“Based on ADTEC records, nearly 99% of graduates secure employment within a short period after graduation.

“More impressively, based on the excellent track record of graduates in the industry, large companies have already started locking in students as early as their fifth and sixth semesters before they even graduate,” he said.

Ahmad Zulhisham said TVET students, especially in aircraft maintenance, receive extensive hands-on training using real aircraft and helicopters to better prepare them for actual work conditions.

“In the three years of study, students have the opportunity to obtain three important certificates simultaneously, namely the Diploma in Technology from the Department of Human Resources, a Malaysian Skills Diploma Level Four from the Department of Skills Development, and an Aircraft Maintenance Technician Category A licence recognised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM),” he said.

He added that TVET graduates can progress beyond technical roles to engineering positions or serve in security agencies such as the armed forces, police and fire department.

Universiti Kuala Lumpur-Malaysia France Institute (UniKL MFI) Deputy Dean,  Dr Siti Norhafiza Abdul Razak said the outdated view of TVET as a low-status field must be removed.

She said UniKL records show a 99.7% employability rate for TVET graduates within three to six months of completing their studies.

“We need to reject the perception that TVET is low-class or that skills like welding are only suitable for small jobs, when in fact many sectors, including critical fields, require skilled welders and offer significantly higher salary structures compared to other sectors.

“At UnikL itself, welding modules and training are specifically developed to meet the needs of large and complex industries such as oil and gas, which require highly skilled personnel capable of performing tasks accurately and with quality,” she said.

National Organisation of Skilled Workers (BELIA MAHIR) President, Mohammad Rizan Hassan said negative perceptions remain a major barrier to TVET development.

“This situation leads to continued reliance on foreign workers and a waste of the potential of local youth who possess high practical skills but are not given proper recognition in the country's education and job market ecosystem,” he said.

He added that national policies such as the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 can only succeed if TVET training keeps pace with industry needs and global changes such as automation, artificial intelligence and green energy.