Zahid: Scheme manages to reduce unemployment rate
KEPALA BATAS: The country’s unemployment rate dropped in the first quarter (Q1) of this year to 3.5%, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said this was lower than the 4.1% in Q1 last year and 4.8% in Q1 2021.
“The unemployment rate in Penang was at 2.3% in the first half of 2023 compared with 3.3% during the same period last year,” he said when opening Karnival Kerjaya MYFutureJobs here yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid said the MYFutureJobs programme was instrumental in reducing the unemployment rate and that it would continue to contribute to the national economy and wellbeing of the people.
Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar, in his speech, said 884,688 people had been placed in jobs from January to July 21 this year through the MYFutureJobs programme.
“During the period from January 2020 to July 2023, a total of 73,374 women managed to get jobs, with 32,711 of them in Penang.
“This year alone, Socso managed to place 3,761 women out of 8,170 individuals with jobs in Penang,” he said, referring to the Social Welfare Organisation.
Later, during the opening of the Penang Regional Development Authority’s (Perda) Open Day and Agrotourism event at Tasek Gelugor, Ahmad Zahid said Perda would get a higher allocation in Budget 2024 if its agrotourism efforts were successful.
“Not only hotels should reap profits from tourist receipts but also the people in villages – Perda should look into quality homestays to attract tourists and generate income for the people there.
“Current homestays should be upgraded and play a part in the development of agrotourism in the villages,” he added.
