A Green Future For Whom? Women and Youth Are Still Left Behind

Prepared by Aliya Waheedah

27 November 2025

Introduction

One question remains as Malaysia rushes to meet its climate targets and make the shift to a low-carbon economy: who exactly is being prepared to power this green revolution? With an estimated RM637 billion required to support the energy transition, there is a rapid increase in demand for green skills. Yet, a lot of recent graduates still have trouble breaking into this new industry, and women are still underrepresented, particularly in technical and leadership positions. 

Malaysia's workforce readiness is still uneven despite the country's efforts to improve it through initiatives like the NETR, the Human Resources Ministry's Green Jobs initiative, and training programs run by the Malaysia Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC). Gender equality and youth empowerment must be viewed as essential components of national climate ambition rather than as afterthoughts if the green transition is to be genuinely equitable and inclusive. Youth unemployment persists as an ongoing issue, and it's concerning that fewer students are enrolling in STEM programs, which are crucial for green industries like climate tech and renewable energy. 

This trend threatens to widen the skills gap just as demand for green jobs surges. Women continue to be underrepresented in technical and leadership roles within the sustainability sector, held back by structural barriers, limited support, and a lack of inclusive policy design. Malaysia runs the risk of creating a green economy that is neither inclusive nor set up for the future if specific steps are not taken to strengthen and include women and young people.

A Missing Generation? The STEM Decline and the Youth Skills Gap

While Malaysia sets ambitious plans for a more sustainable and greener economy, beneath its surface is the unsettling reality of an unprepared generation to take it on. One of the biggest warning signs is the steady decline in students enrolling in STEM programs. This trend will significantly impact the nation’s climate goals and green job targets. 

Recent data from the Ministry of Higher Education also reveals declining interest in STEM fields. Enrolment in science and technical streams at the secondary and tertiary level has either stagnated or dropped, particularly concerning considering the strong need for expertise in environmental data analysis, sustainable engineering, and renewable energy. Compounding the issue is a siloed approach to STEM education, where subjects are taught in isolation rather than integrated with real-world applications, thus making it harder for students to connect the dots between what they learn in class and the emerging opportunities in green careers. 

According to a 2021 study titled “STEM Education in Malaysia: Fulfilling SME’s Expectations”, many small and medium enterprises report that STEM graduates often lack essential workplace competencies, including critical thinking, problem solving, and hands-on technical skills. This gap between what students learn and what employers need makes it harder for Malaysia to build a workforce that’s ready for the future. Furthermore, not only is enrollment in STEM declining, but the quality of local universities' graduates is not up to par. 

Why Are Women Still Sidelined in Green Careers?

The problem disproportionately affects students from rural areas and girls. Despite often excelling academically, female students remain underrepresented in STEM pathways due to societal expectations, limited support, and a lack of visible role models. This not only reflects a gender equity problem but also represents a lost opportunity for Malaysia’s green economy to harness a more diverse and capable talent pool.

In Malaysia’s journey toward a greener economy, gender disparities in workforce participation remain a major obstacle, especially for women who take career breaks. As highlighted in this article, many women face difficulties reentering the job market due to limited support systems such as affordable childcare, flexible work policies, and targeted reskilling programs. These systemic gaps not only discourage women from pursuing technical or green careers but also limit the country’s ability to fully utilise a more competent and diverse labour force. 

Gender isn’t just a matter of fairness; it’s an economic inefficiency. As Malaysia prepares to mobilize billions in green investment and innovation, sidelining half the population is a missed opportunity. Emancipating women through inclusive policy design, mentorship, and accessible green skills training is not only about equity but a necessary condition for fair progress towards sustainable development. 

The Future We Dream Of, but Not Everyone Sees

The conceptualisation of a non-discriminatory, inclusive green economy is often discussed in government halls, roundtable discussions, and policy blueprints. Even so, for many young people and women, it still seems like a conversation that doesn't belong to them. All of these green economy-centric opportunities may seem distant, especially to those navigating underfunded schools, unstable internet, or social expectations that don’t place them at the centre of innovation. 

Most of us talk about reskilling programs and STEM importance, but are we reaching the girl in a rural secondary school who’s never seen a female engineer? The fresh graduate who studied engineering in sustainability but can’t find meaningful work? The woman with a degree and talent, held back not by ability but by unpaid care duties? And also to those who have never been allowed to truly shine in the industry.

Sometimes, it’s not that they aren’t ready for the future. It’s that the future is being built and failing to meet them halfway. In my humble opinion, before we rush to close the gap, maybe we should pause for a moment and try to resonate with the issue better. To listen. To reflect on why awareness campaigns rarely land in the places they’re needed most. Why do so many policies assume participation without asking what inclusion really means? Upon reflection, these are not implementation gaps, but rather empathy gaps. 

At the end of the day, green transition isn’t just switching to cleaner energy or smarter infrastructure. It’s about the people and improving the quality of life. It’s about transforming who gets to participate in shaping the nation’s future. And if we want to see real changes, then we must make space for those who’ve been quietly left out. 

References :

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