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Pahang has committed more than RM5 million this year towards strengthening technical and vocational education. Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail emphasised the state's strategy of developing skilled talent before investment opportunities materialise.
Universiti Malaysia Perlis is annually graduating almost 2,000 engineers and graduates to strengthen Malaysia's semiconductor and electronics industries, directly supporting the National Semiconductor Strategy's goal of developing 60,000 skilled workers by 2030.
Pahang has achieved the highest labour force participation rate on Malaysia's east coast at 65.3% in the first quarter of 2026, while maintaining an unemployment rate of just 1.9%, bolstered by government employment programmes.
Malaysia is expanding workforce development partnerships with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with Human Resources Minister R. Ramanan meeting high commissioners from both nations to explore skills upgrading and sustainable employment initiatives.
Human Resources Minister Ramanan says Malaysia is on the verge of achieving high-income nation status, with GNI per capita reaching USD12,380 under PM Anwar Ibrahim's leadership.
Employment among agricultural TVET graduates in Malaysia has climbed to 76% in 2024, a substantial jump from 61% six years earlier. However, the sector still underperforms relative to the broader TVET landscape and faces persistent youth recruitment challenges.
QSR Brands and Yayasan JCorp have graduated 37 students through the ADI vocational training programme in Johor Bahru, combining classroom learning with hands-on restaurant experience. The achievement underscores Malaysia's push to integrate industry expertise into technical education.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has encouraged gig economy workers to pursue technical and vocational training to boost career prospects, citing HRD Corp's RM3 billion upskilling fund accessible through a new portal.
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An International Labour Organisation report finds nearly 80 million workers across ASEAN face potential exposure to generative AI, though large-scale job disruption has not yet materialised. Regional preparedness remains uneven.