For over a decade, salaries for fresh graduates in Malaysia have remained stagnant, posing challenges in attracting and retaining talented individuals, particularly in crucial fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Despite the increasing demand for skilled workers in these sectors, the lack of significant salary growth could impede efforts to cultivate a robust workforce for the future.

Dr. Nor Shahidah, an expert in Geological Engineering and Soil Mechanics at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, underscored the importance of establishing salary ranges commensurate with professional standards, as reported by NST. She emphasized that equitable compensation is crucial not only for ensuring fair pay but also for generating interest among young people in pursuing STEM careers.

"The ongoing discussion regarding the remuneration of STEM graduates has become more pronounced, highlighting the minimal increase in salaries compared to those offered to individuals entering the workforce a decade or two ago," she observed.

One contributing factor to the declining interest in traditional STEM roles is the burgeoning gig economy. Shahidah noted that professions like social media influencing often offer better pay and greater flexibility than STEM careers, making them more enticing to younger generations.

Engineer Rahmat Muhad Anuar, with thirty years of experience in the field, expressed concerns about the stagnant salaries, advocating for government intervention to compel companies to raise salaries for fresh graduates. He highlighted the phenomenon of many graduates being assigned unrelated tasks outside their field of study, hindering their skill development and career advancement.

"Most fresh graduates find themselves performing tasks unrelated to their field, such as data entry, which limits their learning opportunities and skill enhancement," he remarked.

Megat Johari Megat Mohd Noor, leading the Malaysian Society for Engineering & Technology, criticized what he perceived as exploitation within the industry. He argued that companies fail to adequately compensate employees for their hard work and identified a significant skills gap, with many engineers lacking practical expertise in specialized areas.

"As it stands, the industry requires engineering technologists with specialized expertise, yet we have an abundance of engineers who possess theoretical knowledge only," he lamented.