Few skilled workers make Malaysia unattractive to German investment

Malaysia's lack of skilled workers is putting off German investors, said German ambassador to Malaysia Dr Gunter Gruber. The lack of skilled workers would mean extra investment for the company to bring in skilled workers from outside if they were to set up operations here.

"There is a lack of skilled workers at all levels from operators to engineers, not only at the top levels," he said in a press conference after a courtesy visit with the Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng. “In Germany, we have hundreds of years of experience that combines theoretical and practical training through apprenticeship programmes because we know that skilled works can earn much more than an academic.”

In Malaysia, the government is doing everything possible to encourage college attendance and preventing fresh graduates from going jobless. This is evident by the number of government scholarships and post-degree training.

However there are some students who are either bored by traditional studies or don't have the aptitude for higher studies but can still contribute to the country's success. In Germany, these types of students are seen as assets provided they are matched with the right vocation and training.

“Some skilled workers even make more money than I do so Malaysians should have a vision that not only academic careers are best for their children,” Dr Guenter added.

Nevertheless, the ambassador said that Malaysia is on the right track and that once the country has the right amount of skilled workers billions worth of investments would follow.

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