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Pahang has achieved the highest labour force participation rate on Malaysia's east coast at 65.3% in the first quarter of 2026, with unemployment remaining subdued at 1.9%. The state's success reflects ongoing employment initiatives and skills development programmes.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan has reaffirmed that Malaysian workers must receive priority for job vacancies before employers can recruit foreign labour, aligning with government policy to boost local employment.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed the government's commitment to prioritising employment for Malaysian workers while conducting a thorough review of foreign worker requirements across different economic sectors.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has assured that Malaysia's technical and vocational graduates will enjoy near-universal employment prospects through strengthened partnerships between educational institutions and industry players.
Entrepreneur Minister Steven Sim has urged Malaysian businesses to view artificial intelligence as a tool for expanding capacity rather than reducing workforce costs, warning that short-sighted redundancy strategies will prove counterproductive.
Malaysia's Human Resources Ministry is pivoting away from job quantity towards ensuring positions match workers' qualifications and offer better pay. The initiative coincides with Johor's election pledge to create 250,000 quality jobs.