GEORGETOWN – Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, some 10,000 people have lost their jobs in Penang, impacting the state’s economic outlook.
However, from January to June, the state recorded only 5,485 job vacancies.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, in playing this down, reiterated that the state had recorded the highest manufacturing foreign direct investments (FDI) in the country for the first half of this year with an inflow of RM8.42 billion.
“With this, we hope to generate a further 6,791 new jobs in the state soon,” he said.
Currently, the unemployment rate in Penang stands between four and five percent.
“Here, we can see that there are thousands of opportunities for Penangites,” he said, adding the state would continue to assist those who were unemployed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chow said the Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC), had in June, established a career search portal to help the youth find jobs.
PYDC is also working with other parties to fine tune the job search portals – operatorpengeluaran.my and technicians.my.
He said that the Penang Career Assistance and Talent Center (CAT) continues to strive to attract and retain talent in Penang by becoming a hub of contact for both job seekers and employers.
Chow said that the digital platform was built for operators and manufacturing technicians, for those in the industry to find work and to choose the right person for the job.
“With the help of these two new digital portals, we hope jobseekers can build their resumes and apply for technical and manufacturing roles at the click of a button or a tap on their phone,” he said.
The two new digital portals are a joint venture between PYDC with Goche Corporation, Megan Millions Employment Agency, and Pink Label Conferences and Events.
It is understood that the portals managed to draw 7,000 jobseekers within a few months of its soft launch – The Vibes, November 19, 2020.