Malaysian Apprenticeship Implementation: Issues and Challenges Towards Effective Employers Engagement

While the jobs recovery is underway in many countries, persistently high rates of youth unemployment remain a significant labour market challenge. In response, there has been increasing interest apprenticeships both as route into employment and also raising skill levels workforce. Apprenticeship one methods to promote young people's employment. It historically prevalent successful Europe emulated other countries around world especially amongst youth. Apprenticeships work-based training opportunities are valuable pathways for improving transition from school-to-work. At local level, apprenticeship programmes can contribute regional development objectives provide employers with skilled workforce they require competitive create jobs. Therefore, this study was carried out investigate currents issues challenges faced by Malaysian industrial employer engagement through action research descriptive studies. This action-based methodology gather responses companies’ experiences manufacturing sector, across Multinational Companies (MNC), Government-Linked Corporations (GLC) Small Medium-scale Enterprises (SME) identify key solutions that could beneficial prospect TVET graduates participating companies. Both quantitative qualitative data survey questionnaires interviews, respectively, were employed. 71 companies involved online 6 participated interviews discussions well brainstorming. From perspective ofindustries, found main are: scarcity competent industries instructors coaches; provision CPD; availability bridging programs; teaching capacity; skills deliver quality focused apprenticeship; providers collaboration. These six fundamentally systemic highly intertwined nature will have be resolved all stakeholders based on an agreeable working framework Malaysia. The findings policy makers social partners specific learnings remove barriers engaging programmes, broaden access improve economic performance areas.