Johor expects 26,000 job opportunities for youth this year, says Onn Hafiz

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Oct 25 — Johor's Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has announced that the state anticipates 26,000 job opportunities for young people throughout this year. The projected growth is fueled by economic progress and the arrival of substantial investments. Mr. Ghazi affirmed that the forecasted number indicated a steady year-over-year rise, credited to strategic programs like the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and major career fairs such as the Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC) Mega Job Fair.

He highlighted that job openings had witnessed a substantial rise from 15,000 in 2022 to 17,000 in 2024, reaching 24,000 in 2025, and finally aiming for 26,000 this year. The JTDC Mega Job Fair alone contributed 3,000 positions, with 1,000 of these offering premium salaries. During a speech at the JTDC Mega Job Fair's closing event at the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre (TMIYC) in Iskandar Puteri, Mr. Ghazi emphasized that Johor's robust economic growth, marked by an 8 per cent GDP growth rate, the highest in the nation's history, and RM110 billion in investments, should manifest as tangible advantages for the populace, particularly the youth and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), allowing them to reap the rewards of the state's prosperity.

He stressed that these statistics should not merely appear on paper but must be felt by the people as a result of the growth taking place in the state. For human capital development, the state government is also stressing the significance of reskilling and upskilling initiatives to ensure the local workforce meets the requirements of high-paying industries in advanced manufacturing, logistics, energy, and data centers.