KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia's unemployment rate dropped by 0.3% during the second quarter of this year.
According to Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim (Pendang-PAS) during the parliamentary question-and answer-session today, Malaysia registered an unemployment rate of 4.8% compared with 5.1% during the same period last year.
Through the MyFutureJobs portal, Awang said, 1,574,327 job opportunities were created based on data obtained up to September.
“Meanwhile, 636,613 job seekers were looking for employment, and out of that number, 217,356 individuals were successful in getting matching jobs,” Awang said.
He also said that the Malaysian Investment Development Authority recorded RM80.6 billion worth of investment, a jump of 95.6% over one year.
“From these investments, we expect 933 projects, and from these projects, the creation of 32,357 jobs,” he said.
On the issue of job security particularly for those employed under SMEs, Awang pointed towards the ministry’s wage subsidy scheme.
“This scheme not only assists with job retention but also reduces the burdens faced by SME operators due to the pandemic.
“With this scheme, employers are not allowed to retrench workers, cut their pay, or force employees to take unpaid leave for three months after the implementation of this policy,” Awang added. – The Vibes, September 22, 2021
