Data on the Professions of First-Generation Malay Graduates

1642. Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik: To ask the Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs in light of the Intergenerational Mobility report by the Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs (a) whether there is data on the type of professions that the first-generation Malay graduates normally enter into; and (b) if so, what is the percentage breakdown of Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) and private business owners.

Response:

1. The Government does not track the employment outcomes of graduates by which generation of their families they belong to (e.g., first-generation graduates). The General Household Survey provides data on the highest qualification attained, industry, occupation, employment status, usual hours worked and gross monthly income from employment.

2. Based on the General Household Survey 2025, for employed Malay graduates (i.e., with university as the highest qualification attained), more than 9 in 10 were Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs). Around 9 in 10 employed Malay graduates were employees, with the rest being either employers or own account workers (i.e., individuals who operate their own business or trade without employing paid employees). These trends are comparable to the national population.

3. The top five industries that Malay graduates were employed in were Public Administration & Education, Health & Social Services, Professional Services, Financial & Insurance Services and Wholesale & Retail Trade. This largely mirrors the top industries that university graduates were employed in.