17,171 hired via job carnivals
KOTA KINABALU: A total of 17,171 local school leavers and graduates have secured employment through 26 job and career carnivals being held across the state since early this year.
“They comprised Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) certificate holders as well as university and college graduates,” said Labour Department chief assistant director of the Employment Services Division (Jobs Malaysia), Othman Abdullah, at the Sabah Employment Expo here, yesterday.
The two-day event was launched by Assistant Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology Development Datuk Hamisa Samat, who advised youth to take the initiative of acquiring relevant skills in order to secure skills-based jobs offered in the job market.
“The syndrome of choosing a job must be avoided for the sake of the progress of the people and the state that is facing a global era of competition,” she said in her launching speech.
Hamisa reckoned that local youth should seize the opportunities being provided by the government in the economic sector as well as in the training discipline.
“Various initiatives are provided by the government for local youth to get jobs. The government's ongoing program has managed to reduce the unemployment rate by up to five percent this year, “she said.
The exhibition, which includes 21 government and private agencies, offered 1,322 employment opportunities for youth.