Purpose – The study examines how governance structures and systemic factors undermine technical and vocational education and training (TVET) workforce development, addressing key research gaps and offering actionable insights for reform. Design/methodology/approach – Utilizing a qualitative approach, the study draws on semi-structured interviews with 28 key stakeholders across Malaysia’s TVET landscape, including public and private sector representatives, policymakers, training providers, and industry experts. Findings – Findings indicate that fragmented governance and overlapping mandates hinder coordinated TVET efforts. Industry-academia collaboration remains weak, limiting alignment with labor market needs. Workforce readiness is affected by soft skills gaps and limited practical training. Policy implementation challenges include gender disparities and slow career progression. Originality/value – This study offers a unique contribution by critically examining how governance structures and systemic challenges undermine TVET workforce development, addressing gaps in the literature that often overlook these complexities. Unlike previous research focused on curriculum alignment or skills development, it highlights fragmented administration, equity concerns like gender disparities, and limited industry engagement as key barriers. Drawing on diverse stakeholder perspectives within Malaysia, the study provides actionable insights for reform, aiming to enhance the responsiveness, inclusivity, and effectiveness of TVET systems. Its governance-centric approach and focus on equity issues present valuable implications for global TVET discourse and policy development. © 2025 Emerald Publishing Limited
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