Govt to focus on high-value industries to create skilled jobs
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will focus on high-growth, high-value industries to create skilled jobs and raise wages, despite a lower unemployment rate in 2025.
Malaysia is focusing on high-value, high-growth industries to generate skilled jobs and increase wages, according to Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. Despite a low unemployment rate of 3.0% in 2025, skills-related underemployment remains at 35.6%. Nasir explained that some Malaysians, including graduates, are working below their qualifications and earning low wages, indicating a disconnect between skills and job requirements.
The government aims to address this issue by assessing the labour market based on multiple indicators, including the skills workforce and underemployment rate. Under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the government intends to boost skilled jobs by 2030, with the skills-related underemployment rate expected to decrease to 30%, median monthly wages to reach RM3,500, and skilled workers to make up 35% of the workforce.
The government plans to implement wage increases through the Progressive Wage Policy, Minimum Wage Order, and living wage initiative. Cost-of-living measures include RM15 billion in cash contributions, RM3.1 billion in welfare assistance, targeted fuel and utility subsidies, and the Price Standardisation Programme and Payung Rahmah initiative.
Quota-based fuel subsidies under Budi95 and Budi Diesel will continue at an estimated cost of RM4 billion monthly.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
