Why do teenagers lack of interest in pursuing study?

by Ahmad Fikree 

The Statistics Department released a report in August 2022 stating that approximately 390,000 out of 560,000 SPM candidates, or 72.1%, preferred to join the workforce after the examination. Only 170,000 students were eager to continue their education. The 2019 study cited three main reasons for the lack of interest among these 17 and 18-year-olds: job opportunities in the gig economy, interest in becoming social media influencers, and the perception that continuing their studies would not guarantee better jobs (The Star, 2022).

So these are the 3 main reasons that could make your child lazy to continue his/her study

1. Job opportunities in the gig economy.

The gig economy is transforming Malaysia’s labour market by creating new opportunities, increasing flexibility, and promoting decent work. As part of the gig economy, freelancers or independent contractors work on short-term projects. In Malaysia, the gig economy has resulted in an increase in freelance jobs such as ride-hailing, e-commerce delivery, and computer programming. Because of these expanded opportunities, workers can now work remotely from home or other locations. Individuals with family responsibilities or other obligations can schedule their work hours more flexibly as a result of this. Individuals with a wide range of skills can also find work in the gig economy. As a result, more people have access to good working conditions, such as higher pay and more flexible working hours (BusinessToday, 2022).

2. Interest in becoming social media influencers.

Teens can use social media to create online identities, communicate with others, and build social networks. Minors are huge fans of social media influencers (e.g., beauty bloggers, video game vloggers, toy unboxers, instafamous). Many teenagers’ lives revolve around social media. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey of nearly 750 13 to 17-year-olds, 45% are almost always online and 97% use a social media platform such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat (Mayo Clinic, 2022).

3. Impression that continuing their studies would not guarantee better jobs.

Companies have been forced to reconsider some of their more traditional hiring practises as a result of the Great Resignation. When it comes to finding the right candidates, recruiters are now looking beyond college pathways. This means more opportunities, higher pay, and better benefits than ever before for job seekers without a degree (Jeff Mazur, 2021).

Simply put, the lack of a college degree should not reduce your chances of landing a good job nowadays. This is encouraging news for many young people who are entering the labour force.

Reference

BusinessToday. (2022, December 10). Gig Economy in Malaysia. Retrieved from
https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2022/12/10/gig-economy-in-malaysia-transformingthe-labour-landscape-and-promoting-decent-work/#:~:text=The%20gig%20economy%
20has%20seen,from%20home%20or%20other%20locations

Mayo Clinic. (2022, February 26). Teens and social media use: What’s the impact? Healthy Lifestyle Tween and teen health. Retrieved from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teens-andsocial-media-use/art-20474437

Mazur, J. (2021, August 11) You Don’t Need a College Degree to Land a Great Job. Career Planning. Retrieved from
https://hbr.org/2021/08/you-dont-need-a-college-degree-to-land-a-great-job

The Star. (2022, August 29). ‘Study why teens don’t want to pursue studies.’ Retrieved from
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/08/29/study-why-teens-dont-want-to-pursue-studies