PUTRAJAYA: More than 376,000 job seekers have managed to secure employment through 27 government-led initiatives this year, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       The Prime Minister said the National Employment Council was informed that the figure that was recorded from Jan 1 to Sept 10, had exceeded the target of getting 354,276 people employed in the first nine months of the year.

       “These latest figures indicate that the government’s intention of creating 500,000 job opportunities this year can be achieved,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Sept 23).

       Ismail Sabri said that aside from that, some 97,000 new employment opportunities were created through domestic investment, of which 76% are under the skilled and semi-skilled categories.

       The figure, he said, was part of the 160,000 target for new employment created through investment commitment for 2021.

       “To boost the skills and resilience of Malaysia’s workforce, a National Job Creation Strategic Plan will be implemented.

       “Creation of employment in Malaysia will also be enhanced through six core strategies, including to spur the growth of new and modern sectors, and to create skills and talents to meet the needs of industries,” he said.

       Ismail Sabri said the Finance and Human Resources ministries have been given the responsibility to develop a one-stop digital platform to ensure that training and skills enhancement programmes carried out by ministries can

       be carried out effectively.

       “The government is confident that strategies undertaken by the council can carry the momentum for economic recovery and boost job creation.

       “This will help resolve issues of lack of workers in certain sectors, equal opportunities for the vulnerable groups and matters involving salaries,” he said.