KUCHING: A worrying trend that needs to be seriously studied is unemployment, as the rate of unemployment in Sarawak increased by 8.7 per cent from 2017 to last year.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said that 1,751 individuals in the state lost their jobs and applied for Employment Insurance System (EIS) Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) benefits as of November this year.
He said 295 individuals (16.85 per cent) were from the manufacturing sector, 243 individuals (13.88 per cent) were from the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector while 237 individuals (13.54 per cent) were from the professional, scientific, and technical sector.
“The main challenge now is to reduce unemployment, especially in the youth segment,” he said.
His speech was presented by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali during the Sarawak EIS Perkeso Career Carnival 2019 at Mydin Hypermart, Petra Jaya, yesterday.
Citing the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Abang Johari said last year, the nation saw 504,300 unemployed individuals including 293,700 youths aged 15 to 24 years.
“In the year before last, 503,300 individuals faced unemployment including 283,400 youths between 15 and 24 years old,” he said.
The chief minister said that most of the unemployed youths were graduates.
“Job opportunities created by the job market nationwide are limited.
“There were 169,000 job vacancies in 2015; 130,000 in 2016; 157,000 in 2017; and this decreased to 101,000 last year,” he added.
Abang Johari pointed out there were 100,000 SPM (vocational) finishers and 300,000 graduates (diploma and degree holders) from institutions of higher learning every year.
He expressed his concern over unemployed youths and graduates who were forced to carry out any economic activities including non-standard employment in order to earn a living.
Abang Johari said that the reasons for unemployment had to be analysed in depth from various angles.
“I believe it is time for the Ministry of Human Resource and Perkeso to re-examine the employment policies and strategies in this country,” he said.
Abang Johari added that there was a possibility that unemployment in youths was directly related to foreign workers’ employment policies, trade officers, as well as foreign students who worked including those who carried out illegal and uncontrolled business.
Also present were Perkeso chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Aziz Mohammed, Perkeso’s EIS head Datuk Mohd Sahar Darusman, Ministry of Human Resource secretary general Datuk Amir Omar, and Sarawak Perkeso director Phillip Sangkan.
