December 23, 2006 17:32 PM
Malaysia's Unemployment Rate Second Lowest Among Asean Countries MARANG, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has an unemployment rate which is the second lowest among the Asean countries after Singapore, and the country is among the 20 countries of the world with a small number of unemployed people, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar said today. He said this year only 3.4 per cent or 25,000 people of the country's 24 million population were unemployed, and the number was expected to drop further with the implementation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the National Mission, which would provide more employment opportunities. "Those unemployed comprise 47 per cent who are looking for jobs for the first time and the remainder are those looking for other jobs," he added. He said 53 per cent of the first-time job seekers were school leavers with Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) qualification, 27 per cent comprised diploma holders, matriculation students and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) holders. The remainder are graduates. He spoke to reporters after presenting contributions from the Kampung Padang Midin Education and Welfare Fund to 21 students pursuing courses at public and private institutions of higher learning, colleges and polytechnics, here. Abdul Rahman said the government was able to reduce the unemployment rate through various programmes, including the "Sure Kerja" Carnival which offered 10,000 jobs, as well as by ensuring good economic growth for the country. The Public Service Department has also provided jobs to 32,000 people who have been sent to the various ministries and departments, he added. He said the government's decision to restrict employment of foreigners in several sectors including manufacturing also provided more jobs for the local people. -- BERNAMA __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
