How will Penang fill its skilled job vacancies?

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Penang's Strategy to Address Skilled Job Vacancies

Penang plans to fill its skilled job vacancies through a multi-pronged approach focused on attracting external talent and supporting local companies in their recruitment efforts. The state aims to draw approximately 150,000 knowledge workers from other Malaysian states over the next five years, targeting around 30,000 annually. This initiative is driven by a significant influx of investments that have created a demand for highly skilled individuals in sectors such as electrical and electronics, accounting, law, and medicine.
Attracting External Knowledge Workers

A primary strategy involves actively recruiting skilled professionals from outside Penang to address the existing manpower shortage. This is particularly crucial for multinational corporations and local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are struggling to find suitable local candidates. The state is promoting Penang as an attractive location for career development, aiming to convince talent from other regions to relocate and fill these high-income job opportunities. The surge in approved manufacturing investments, reaching RM76.2 billion and marking a 440% year-on-year increase, underscores the scale of demand for skilled labour.
Supporting Local SMEs with Internship Subsidies

To bolster the local talent ecosystem and aid SMEs in their recruitment, Penang launched the Penang Internship Subsidy Programme (PISP) on February 18th. This programme offers a monthly allowance subsidy of RM300 per intern for six months to qualified companies that recruit interns from outside Penang. The initiative aims to make internships in local SMEs more appealing, as many aspiring interns tend to favour opportunities at multinational companies. Already, the first batch of PISP has awarded 111 internship placements to nine local companies, including prominent names like Inari Technology Sdn Bhd and UWC Industrial Sdn Bhd.
Balancing Local and External Talent Recruitment

While priority is consistently given to local talent, the reality of the current market necessitates external recruitment to meet the heightened industrial demand. The state acknowledges that the rapid growth in high-end investments has outpaced the local supply of skilled workers. Therefore, attracting talent from other states is seen as a necessary measure to ensure that the growing industries have access to the qualified personnel required to manage advanced operations, such as the automation prevalent in the electrical and electronic industry.
Promoting a Conducive Work Environment

Beyond direct recruitment and subsidies, Penang is actively working to enhance its appeal as a destination for skilled professionals. The state is promoting itself as a conducive environment for career advancement, aiming to create a strong talent pipeline that can support both existing investors and future investments. Local Penang-based companies interested in participating in the PISP can apply online through www.penangcatcentre.my, with applications closing on December 31st.

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How will Penang fill its skilled job vacancies?

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