SHAH ALAM, Oct 27 — The caregiving profession is no longer viewed merely as an act of charity but is emerging as a promising new career field that is gaining increasing recognition.
Through training programmes conducted at Universiti Selangor (Unisel) and the Selangor Technical Skills Development Centre (STDC), caregiving is being elevated to a professional level, creating new career opportunities within a socially impactful industry.
This initiative forms part of the state government’s efforts to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in elderly care, childcare, and support for individuals with special needs.
It not only aims to produce a skilled workforce but also to recognise caregiving as a profession that contributes to both economic growth and social wellbeing in the state.
According to Selangor Social Welfare Department (JKM) director Azmir Kassim, the low perception of caregiving as a career stems from social values that regard caring for the elderly as a moral duty rather than a professional opportunity.
“Public understanding of caregiving as a profession remains low. A study by Nurani and Zuraini (2020) found that only about 40 per cent of the public recognise caregiving as a potential professional career.
“In our culture, caring for the elderly is often seen as an act of love and obligation, not as a skill that can be developed. As a result, society has yet to view it as a field worth pursuing professionally,” he said during the 'Bicara Semasa' programme produced by Media Selangor.
However, under the 2026 Selangor Budget, the state government has allocated dedicated funding to strengthen caregiving training and formalise it as a recognised profession.
This is expected to create more job opportunities and provide long-overdue recognition to caregivers who have long been working informally.
Changing perceptions: caregiving is more than just compassion
The introduction of structured training at institutions like Unisel and STDC also aims to normalise caregiving as a high-skill profession, on par with other careers in the health and social sectors.
“We want to change the perception that caregiving is merely an act of love; it is, in fact, a form of expertise that carries both economic and social value,” Azmir said.
With the elderly population projected to grow over the next decade, demand for professional caregivers is also expected to increase, making this a stable and meaningful career path for the future.
