HUMAN Resources Minister V. Sivakumar said the country’s unemployment rate continued to show a falling trend, with 3.5% recorded in the first quarter of 2023 compared to 3.6% in the fourth quarter of 2022.  

He said this was due to significant shifts in job-seeking trends, especially among the youth. At the same time, there were various initiatives being implemented by the government to assist job seekers aged 40 and above. 

“There is indeed a changing trend in job search, especially after Covid-19, as many people lost their jobs and then sought employment opportunities that matched their interests and skills. This change in trend is evident,” he said at a press conference today. 

He added that data from the MYFutureJobs portal showed 455,350 job seekers nationwide had been successfully placed in various sectors from 2022 until September 2023. 

“This is a positive indication that more people are starting to work, and the unemployment rate is decreasing. At the same time, they are receiving fair wages or salaries,” he said. 

Sivakumar said his ministry and other agencies, including Socso, would try harder to reduce youth unemployment. 

“We are monitoring developments and trends worldwide to identify potential future jobs. Currently, there is high demand in specific fields such as cyber security and digitalisation,” he said. – Bernama, October 7, 2023.