KUCHING: Sarawak has set a target of producing 500,000 skilled workers, increasing the median monthly household income to RM15,000 and creating 195,000 new job opportunities by 2030 as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s human capital development and high-value economy agenda.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the national initiative led by the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) in collaboration with TalentCorp Malaysia provides a strategic opportunity for Sarawak to implement a more structured, focused and economy-driven talent development approach aligned with the state’s needs.
“One of the key challenges currently faced by Sarawak is the migration of about 20 per cent of graduates seeking better salaries and employment opportunities that match their qualifications.
“Data from 2024 also showed that 253,600 individuals remain outside the labour force, mainly due to family caregiving responsibilities, representing untapped workforce potential,” he said.
He said this during his ministerial winding-up session at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Monday.
He added that although Sarawak Government programmes such as the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) and Graduates Enhancement Training Sarawak (GETS) help graduates enter the job market, efforts to retain local talent beyond the early stages of their careers continue to face challenges due to salary gaps and skills mismatches.
In this regard, he said the Sarawak Government, through his ministry, has initiated the Sarawak Talent Development Policy and Framework Study led by Ernst & Young Malaysia in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and the Sarawak Premier’s Office.
“This study will provide a data-driven Sarawak talent development roadmap to strengthen the state’s talent ecosystem,” he said.
He added that among the key outcomes of the study are the development of a comprehensive talent development policy and framework, workforce analysis by sector, as well as competitive employment packages to address the issue. -UKASnews
Prepared by: Grace John Lee
Photo: Ibanez Jeffery
Translator: Uilson Ng
