Generation Y Youth Involvement in 3D Industries: A Preliminary Evidence from Malaysia

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As the largest contributor for Malaysia’s economic growth up to the year 2022, the 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) industries encompasses of services, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, mining and quarrying were very significant and provides ample job opportunities to the Malaysian workforce. Nonetheless, 3D industries are less attractive and shunned by Malaysians, particularly amongst the Generation Y youth. Four determinants were identified in this study namely (i) Wages and Benefits (ii) Recognition (iii) Career Development and (iv) Job Security. This study intends to verify the reliability of the instruments concerning factors that attract the involvement of Malaysian Gen Y youth in 3D industries. A preliminary study was conducted to verify the reliability and to further improved the quality of the instruments. This study employs quantitative method and the proposed items were adopted from past studies. Fifty respondents from the Institut Kemahiran MARA (IKM), Kuala Lumpur were involved in this pilot study. Data was analysed using SPSS. The major findings showed that the Cronbach’s alpha values for all variables namely Gen Y youth’s understanding, wages and benefits, recognition, career development and job security were reliable and above 0.7 threshold value ranges from 0.855 to 0.945. All the instruments proposed were valid and accurate to be used for large-scale study. This study reveals an urgency need for the Malaysian government and employers to pay serious attention in attracting youth involvement as an alternative to foreign workers. Therefore, to combat high influx of foreign workforce in Malaysia, the government and employers are urged to seek for better solution supported by empirical data. This research provides a significant value-added contribution to the existing body of knowledge concerning youth and 3D industries. Further research should develop a proper framework to attract youth involvement in 3D industries while tackling the influx of foreign workforce in Malaysia.