Developing a skilled workforce
There are ample job opportunities in Johor, with more than 30,000 jobs available at present. According to Johor Consumerism, human resources and Unity Committee chairman Dr S. ramakrishnan, 47% or a bulk of those jobs are in the manufacturing sector, while the rest are in other sectors such as construction, hospitality and retail.
he added that the state is now focusing on creating jobs which are not just labour-intensive.
“We’re focusing on jobs which are hi-tech, high value and can meet the needs of the halal industry. To achieve this, we need skilled workers.
“That is why our focus is to get locals to pick up a skill as we do not want them to compete with unskilled foreigners for jobs,” he said, adding that Johor has depended on foreign labourers to drive some of its sectors as there is a “labour deficit”.
Dr ramakrishnan added that the state’s population growth is not in tandem with the high economic growth, leading to the need to hire foreign workers.
he said skills training does not just mean that people should focus on technical skills but also other skills that can help them attain jobs such as professional caddies, lifeguards and chefs.
he also said such training can no longer be regarded as preparing people for a menial or low-paying job, as there is huge demand for skilled people in the state.
“That is why we are coming up with a special campaign to educate students to pick up a skill when they leave school instead of just looking for menial jobs in the job market.
“The way forward for Johor and to increase income is to acquire at least one new skill,” he said, adding that all the state’s four industrial training institutes (ILP) have been told to offer skilled training courses which are relevant in the state.
he said the certificate and diploma courses offered by the ILPs should ensure that the 1,500 people who graduate annually are able to get jobs.
Dr ramakrishnan pointed out that in today’s world, everything is moving at a fast pace with changing technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and various kinds of innovations.
“I believe that if you do not acquire a skill, you will surely lose out,” he said, adding that they would intensify the campaign to promote Technical Vocational education and Training in secondary schools to promote awareness.
Dr ramakrishnan also encouraged employees who are already in the workforce to go for training so that they can acquire new skills.
he stressed that Johor’s swift pace of development, especially in Iskandar Malaysia, made it more attractive for people to continue working here rather than seeking greener pastures in Singapore.
he explained that the state government would continue to hold career carnivals, including in Johor Baru, Kota Tinggi, Segamat and Pontian.
Dr ramakrishnan also advised jobseekers not to be fussy and to find out about the developments taking place in the state so that they would know how to stay marketable.
If Johoreans did not seize these opportunities, such jobs would be offered to people from other states such as Sabah, Sarawak and the northern states in the peninsula, he added.
he said the state government was also concerned about the migration of youths from the rural areas into the cities and were working to address this, including having more development statewide instead of concentrating everything in the south of Johor.
“This can be seen with the expansion of the Iskandar Malaysia growth corridor from 2,217sq km to 4,749sq km, which includes parts of Pontian, Kota Tinggi and Kluang.
“This will have a multiplier effect on the state’s economy,” he said, adding that this would help boost tourism, food and agro logistics in these new areas.
Dr ramakrishnan said more job opportunities were also expected in Segamat since the district is also expected to boom following its inclusion in the east Coast economic region.
“We’re also looking at developing the Bukit Gambir industrial estate in Tangkak with an area of 45.5ha, which can house 50 to 70 small- and medium-scale businesses,” he added.
We’re focusing on jobs which are hi-tech, high value and can meet the needs of the halal industry. To achieve this, we need skilled workers. Dr S. Ramakrishnan