Malaysia's skilled workforce increased to 31% by end of 2016: Riot

KUCHING: As Malaysia's skilled workforce increased to 31% by last year-end, the human resources minister has described it as a "very encouraging development" as the country's target was to have 35% by 2020.
Speaking at a media conference after witnessing the Job Fair 2.0 at the Kuching Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) here today, Datuk Seri Richard Riot said this augured well for the country which was preparing itself to become a high income society by that time.
He said those about to enter tertiary education should consider taking up courses pertaining to technical education as they had much better prospects in the job market.
Meanwhile, he said the government too, had now introduced entrepreneurship syllabus in universities so that graduates could become entrepreneurs upon graduation, instead of merely wanting to go into the civil service.
"This is one way of resolving the current unemployed graduate issue in the country. We have now some 180,000 unemployed graduates. It is feared the number can increase as we have 20 public universities besides private ones and colleges," he added.
On the job fair, Riot said it was simultaneously held today from 10am to 8pm in 10 UTCs and other centres nationwide to offer a total of 25,000 jobs from 400 employers.
"In Kuching alone, 22 employers are offering 1,178 jobs in various fields. I am very satisfied with the overwhelming national response from both job seekers and the potential employers.
"We will organise a second fair in September," he said. — Bernama