Kota kinabalu: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) must continue to be strengthened to produce a skilled and competitive workforce capable of meeting the needs of the oil and gas industry, said Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. He emphasized the necessity for institutions of higher learning and skills training centres to offer more courses and programs related to the oil and gas sector.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hajiji highlighted that this year, a total of RM39.24 million has been allocated under the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation to implement human capital development programs. These initiatives focus on TVET, along with other programs including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), innovation and digital technology, and oil and gas. He stated that TVET should no longer be seen merely as an alternative but should be embraced as a mainstream choice to produce a skilled workforce capable of shaping Sabah's future.
His remarks were delivered by Deputy Chief Minister II cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun during the launch of the MYFutureJobs X Oil and Gas 2026 career carnival at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC). Hajiji noted that oil and gas, tourism, and trade are significant drivers of Sabah's economy, showcasing the diverse economic opportunities in the state.
Sabah's economic growth is supported by several key sectors, with the construction sector recording the highest growth at 28.3 percent, followed by manufacturing at 5.0 percent, mining and quarrying at 4.9 percent, and services at 4.5 percent. Hajiji mentioned that based on statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Sabah's labour market has shown improving trends, with approximately 1.90 million people in the labour force in the second quarter of 2026. Among them, 1.23 million were employed, and about 106,600 were unemployed.
Efforts by the Human Resources Ministry through the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) have resulted in 71,821 job placements in Sabah between 2020 and July 24 this year. This achievement reflects the Government's ongoing commitment to helping Sabahans secure employment and improve their economic well-being. The career carnival, with the participation of 30 employers offering more than 3,000 job opportunities, underscores the commitment of all parties to opening up more career opportunities for Sabahans, particularly job seekers in the oil and gas industry.