Ramanan: 70,240 workers undergoing career transition

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 70,240 people were undergoing career transition between January and Sept 25 this year, according to Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) statistics.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said 34,800, or 49.54 per cent, had diploma-level qualifications or higher.

"The manufacturing sector recorded the highest number of career transitions, involving 13,052 workers or 18.58 per cent.

"This was followed by the wholesale and retail trade sector with 12,910 workers (18.38 per cent), while the construction sector recorded 7,215 workers (10.27 per cent)," he said in a parliamentary written reply yesterday.

He was responding to Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan (PN-Permatang Pauh), who had asked about the latest number of job losses this year.

Ramanan said 15,980 workers, or 22.75 per cent of those undergoing career transition, had secured new jobs during the same period.

"Of this number, 7,725 were skilled workers with diploma-level qualifications or higher who had returned to work," he said.

He said the ministry and Perkeso had taken measures to help workers undergoing career transition secure employment quickly.

"On average, the job placement period is around three months.

"As an incentive, the Early Re-Employment Allowance is provided at a rate of 25 per cent of the remaining unpaid job search allowance, paid as a lump sum.

"However, beginning Oct 1, the payment rate for the remaining job search allowance was increased from 25 per cent to 50 per cent in line with the amendments to the Employment Insurance System and Employment Services Act 2026," he said.

Ramanan said Perkeso's MYFutureJobs portal had also become the country's main job-search platform, helping jobseekers and those undergoing career transition find suitable employment opportunities more quickly and systematically.