Budget 2027: Quality job opportunities need to continue to be strengthened

MIRI, 22 Sept: Development of the labour market in Malaysia including northern Sarawak needs to move from creating more job opportunities to providing high value jobs that match the skills and qualifications of local workforce.

Lecturer in Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Business, Curtin University Malaysia, Dr Tanusree Chakravarty Mukherjee said that economic and industrial development in the region should be supported by job opportunities that can increase productivity and employee incomes.

According to him, the challenge of today's labour market is no longer simply about unemployment but ensuring that workers have jobs that really use their qualifications, skills and experience.

"The question is no longer how many jobs we create, but the extent to which those jobs provide better value, opportunities and income for society.

"There needs to be a shift from low-value jobs to high-value jobs, from traditional jobs to technology-driven jobs, further increasing productivity and wages", he said when he met TVS here recently.

Dr Tanusree said that the links between educational institutions and industry should be strengthened to ensure graduates in northern Sarawak have skills appropriate to the needs of the growing sector.

He said that the opportunities for industry training and real work experience should be expanded to help graduates enter high-productivity sectors including technology, green industries and advanced manufacturing.

"Universities, employers and government agencies need to identify new skills periodically and ensure they are included in the curriculum.

"More industrial training opportunities that truly provide work experience can also help bridge the gap between graduates and industry needs", he added.

He also suggested that Budget 2027 focuses on targeted support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in enhancing productivity, automation and skills of workers.

"We need to look at both sides of the labor market. Not only do we need to increase the supply of skilled labor, but at the same time we need to ensure that industry creates demand for high skills.

"When productivity increases, it should lead to higher incomes, profits and wages and ultimately strengthen household purchasing power", he said.

In Sarawak, the JobSarawak platform introduced by the state government also plays a role in connecting job seekers with employers as well as providing opportunities across various sectors including technology and industry.

Dr Tanusree said such an approach should be complemented by ongoing skills development so that the local workforce is able to adapt to technological changes and economic structures. - TVS