Malaysia records 95.1pct TVET graduate job placement rate
He said this reflects that skills training is finally aligning with job opportunities.
"53.56 per cent of the country's secondary school leavers in 2024 chose TVET as their first option, marking a significant shift in national education trends.
"There are now more than 430,000 students enrolled nationwide, and applications to national TVET institutions have surpassed 200,000," he said at the opening of the Asean TVET Conference (ATVET) 2025 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL).
Zahid, who chairs the National TVET Council, said the government's transformation agenda aims to ensure training remains relevant to market needs, inclusive across all communities, and coordinated under a single national vision.
"When I was entrusted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 2023 to chair the National TVET Council, I knew this was more than just a policy role," he said.
He said Malaysia's TVET ecosystem is being positioned as a regional hub for training and certification, with efforts to attract students from other Asean countries while maintaining opportunities for Malaysians.
"Our goal is not just to produce skilled workers, but to make Malaysia a credible reference centre for TVET in Asean," he said.
Zahid highlighted Malaysia's international collaborations, from 5,125 industrial placements in China, to partnerships with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI in Abu Dhabi, and skills exchanges with Japan, Germany, and Australia.
"In this era, the success of one nation in TVET is no longer enough.
"Our workforce is increasingly regional, and our challenges are shared. This is why Malaysia proposed the establishment of an Asean TVET Certification & Excellence Hub.
"We have gone to the world to strengthen our agenda, ensuring our talent is globally competitive," he said.
These TVET reforms form part of a national mission to propel Malaysia into the world's top 20 of the Global Innovation Index and to create 1.2 million high-value jobs in manufacturing and the digital economy within the next five years.
In June, Zahid said Malaysia was forging strategic partnerships with international educational institutions and industry players, including those from the United Kingdom, to develop a regionally recognised certification and a centre of excellence for TVET.
The two-day conference is jointly organised by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) and the Skills Development Fund Corporation, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Asean.
Held under the Asean Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, the conference brings together over 1,000 delegates, including policymakers, industry leaders and educators, to address skills gaps, share best practices, and explore strategies for future-ready workforce development.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof, HRD Corp chairman Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid, and HRD Corp chief executive officer Dr Syed Alwi Mohamed Sultan.
Key discussion areas include strengthening regional collaboration within Asean, bridging skills gaps, aligning TVET with industrial transformation, and breaking barriers to make TVET more inclusive for women, youth, and marginalised communities.
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