SIMANGGANG: Sri Aman and Betong are facing a labour market imbalance, with job opportunities outpacing the number of available workers in both divisions.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister, Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, said recent data from the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) pointed to a shortage of local talent, making workforce development a key priority for Sarawak’s long term economic plans.
He said the state had so far achieved only about 26 per cent of its target to reach a median household income of RM15,047 a month under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“The situation calls for stronger industry driven initiatives to ensure local workers are equipped with skills that match market demand,” he said in a report by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS).
Speaking at the launch of the ‘SPEAK Sarawak 2030 Talent Bridge’ programme here on Wednesday, Sagah said the initiative was designed to expose students to career pathways at an earlier stage.
He said the programme provides school guidance and counselling teachers with labour market information, enabling them to better advise students on education and career choices that align with future employment opportunities.
Sagah also said Sarawak was aiming to achieve 100 per cent rice self-sufficiency by 2030, with Simanggang and Betong earmarked as pilot areas for modern, technology-based agriculture.
He stressed that closer collaboration between the government, industry players, academic institutions and technical training providers through the Government, Industry, Academia, and Training Providers (GIAT) approach was crucial to producing a highly skilled workforce.
“The workforce challenges we face today cannot be solved by one party alone. It requires the commitment of educational institutions, industries, the media and community leaders,” he said.
He also called on more companies and industry players to take part in the SPEAK programme by sharing employment data and making full use of human capital development funds to strengthen future workforce readiness.
The ‘SPEAK Sarawak 2030 Talent Bridge’ programme featured participation from 15 agencies, offering exhibitions and information on education pathways, technical training and career development opportunities for students and the public.
