KUCHING: The Ministry of Works will introduce several new high-income technical courses under Akademi Binaan Malaysia (ABM) to strengthen the construction workforce and attract more youths into skilled trades.
Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan said the upcoming programmes include Joint Maker, Ready Mix Concrete, Cable Jointer and Railway Construction Diver — all of which offer lucrative salary prospects.
“These are among the new courses that will be introduced, and the salaries for these skills are high,” he said during an iftar session with agencies under the ministry and Sarawak media at a hotel here on Tuesday.
He added that graduates from ABM, which operates under the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), continue to enjoy strong demand from the industry, with a 100 per cent job placement rate recorded.
“This means all graduates from ABM are needed by the construction sector,” he added, noting that the programmes fall under Technical and Vocational Education and Training, which remains a viable pathway for school leavers.
Ahmad also urged youths, particularly SPM leavers, to consider acquiring skills before entering the workforce.
“If we have high skills, we will earn high salaries. Without skills, we are likely to remain in low-paying jobs, which will affect our future income,” he said.
In Sarawak, ABM has its main training centre in Kuching, along with branches in Sibu, Miri and Bintulu, offering a wide range of construction-related courses.
Out of 58 courses offered nationwide, 41 are available in Sarawak, with popular programmes including slinger and rigger, crane operations, wiring installation, air conditioning and mechanical ventilation, chargeman and architectural drafting.
As of February this year, a total of 116 youth trainees and 125 construction personnel trainees are currently undergoing training in Sarawak.
Between 2023 and 2025, ABM Sarawak recorded 365 graduates under youth skills training and 837 under construction personnel programmes.
Nationwide, the figures stand at 5,927 youth graduates and 13,699 construction personnel graduates over the same period.
Ahmad reiterated that the construction sector remains a growing industry, driven by continuous development of infrastructure such as roads, bridges and buildings, thus creating sustained demand for skilled workers.
