‘Get skills to score job’

DPM: Knowledgeable youths needed to fill over three million vacancies

MUAR: Young Malaysians should equip themselves with the skills to fill the 3.3 million jobs available as the country heads towards becoming a high-income nation in 2020, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Deputy Prime Minister said most of the vacancies were in 12 industrial sectors, including those under the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) such as the oil and gas industry.

“In eight years, job opportunities will be created by the Government and for that, youths must have the appropriate skills and qualifications to grab them,” he said when launching the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) Job Carnival in Pagoh near here, yesterday.

Singling out the Petronas Rapid project in Pengerang, which is set to be the biggest oil and gas project in the country, he said it needed thousands of skilled workers to become a success.

“No youth will be left out in such projects, which will need skilled, experienced and knowledgeable workers,” he said.

Muhyiddin, whois also education Minister and MP for Pagoh, said IKBN and other institutions had an important role to play in equipping youths with the needed skills.

He said the country’s current unemployment rate is 2%, adding that in developed countries, small percentages meant full employment.

“I am quite shocked there is still a number of youths who could not find jobs in this day and age,” he said.

Muhyiddin said that with events such as career fairs, youths should find employment quite easily.

He also advised youngsters not to be choosy and lazy.

At another function, he said the close relationship between the Government and the private sector ensures continued economic growth for the country.

“Cooperation between both sectors are important,” he said, adding that private companies had grown and the rakyat had benefited due to such a relationship.