By Yasmin Ramlan
SHAH ALAM, July 10 — The state government intends to provide free counsel to prospective job seekers as part of efforts to address the issue of unemployment in Selangor.
State executive councillor for human resources and poverty eradication V. Papparaidu said this includes services such as teaching them how to prepare resumes that meet current standards and mastering effective interview skills.
“According to a random study by employers, many job seekers fail in interviews due to a lack of communication skills and poorly structured resumes,” he said during the question-and-answer session at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly session today.
[caption id="attachment_363296" align="alignleft" width="395"]
State executive councillor for human resources and poverty eradication V. Papparaidu responds to queries during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly session at the State Secretariat Building in Shah Alam, on July 10, 2024. — Picture by HAFIZ OTHMAN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
According to the Statistics Department’s 2024 Labour Force Report, Malaysia’s unemployment rate stood at 3.3 per cent as of the first quarter of this year, with 566,400 people identified as being unemployed.
“To address this, the Selangor government has implemented various initiatives to boost job opportunities and lower the unemployment rate within the state,” Papparaidu said.
He was responding to questions from Kota Kemuning state assemblyman S. Preakas pertaining to job opportunities for the Orang Asli community and disabled people.
Preakas also asked about the unemployment rate in Malaysia and the state government’s approach to addressing the issue.
Papparaidu added that the Selangor Public Services Commission requires at least one per cent of job opportunities in every public agency to be allocated to individuals with disabilities and the Orang Asli.
However, the hirings still depend on applications submitted by job seekers and on the respective agencies' identification.
Separately, he said the state government is considering expanding existing employment options for the disabled and Orang Asli communities, which he noted may possess skills in certain areas, such as sports, despite not having a formal higher education.
“The Selangor government is also focused on addressing unemployment among other vulnerable groups like senior citizens, single mothers, and ex-convicts,” Papparaidu said.
The councillor said the state consistently conducts career fairs, including the Jelajah JobCare and Selangor Mega Job Fair, to help residents seek employment.
