KUALA LUMPUR: There are 4.7 million Malaysians with diploma and degree qualifications in the national workforce, says Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim.

       This makes up 31.6% of the total workforce, he said during Question Time in Parliament on Monday (Nov 29).

       "The government remains committed to improving the skills and income of Malaysians by providing employment training or apprenticeship for upskilling, reskilling, and cross-skilling," he added.

       Awang said the Human Resources Ministry's Skills Development Department provides skills training through its accredited training programme system and dual national training system, among others.

       He also said the ministry's various programmes have encouraged many Malaysians to be self-employed.

       Awang said the ministry will continue its programmes to help Malaysians secure employment, among them the Young Employable Students programme and several others in collaboration with industry experts and academics.