Business

Tuesday July 7, 2009

Minister: Mismatch between job seekers and vocation


PETALING JAYA: In any type of economy, there are jobs available but the problem lies in matching the right candidate with the right job, according to Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.

“There are jobs available but there is a mismatch between job seekers and the right job and a lack of right platform for job seekers to gain employment,” he told a press conference after launching the Trade & Career Fair 2009 (TCF), co-organised by KBU International College and Your Part Time Sdn Bhd (YPT).

He said there were 800 jobs offered at the two-day TCF, which ends today at 1 Utama Shopping Centre.

He added that employers were increasingly turning to part-timers and it was becoming a new trend in the current economic situation.

Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha ... ‘There is a lack of right platform for job seekers to gain employment'

“During this economic downturn, many employers do not want to commit to full-time workers,” he said.

He said that part-time jobs and contract positions could prove to be quite lucrative as it enabled skill sets to be honed.

Meanwhile, YPT managing director David Lee said that TCF would incorporate the element of “trade and commerce” to make the fair more appealing not only to KBU’s graduating students and job seekers but also to members of the general public.

“I believe that not only our graduating students would benefit from TCF but all our other students as well since part-time and internship opportunities are also available at the event,” said KBU principal See Hoon Peow.

YPT runs an online service via YourPartTime.com that provides part-time job opportunities.

There are 25 direct employers/exhibitors participating in TCF including Habib Jewels, Valdo Brandt International, SNT Global, One World Hotel, Great Eastern Life and Prudential.

At the event, there was also a signing of a memorandum of understanding between Bandar Utama City Centre Sdn Bhd and YPT for the provision of part-time workers by YPT to 1 Utama, which is owned and managed by the former.

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