Market sensitive labour demand is a skills gap
When 2009 rolled in there were genuine concerns over the impending retraction of Malaysia's economy. Jobs, especially in Penang, were closely tied with manufactured exports which, in turn, depended much on the health of the US economy faced with the sub-prime crisis. But fears soon gave way to optimism. By March, labour requirements were on the rise through to the end of the year, and continuing into 2010, regarded as a buoyant year. The problem today is instead one of labour shortage.
Meanwhile, a change of policy has been articulated in the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015), aimed at reducing the use of foreign labour through an elaborate system of levies.
