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INVESTMENT POTENTIAL
Set up in 2019, the Manpower Planning
and Employment Council (MPEC) carries
the role of ensuring effective human
resources planning and corresponding
workability addressing the issue of
unemployment in the county. For this,
theMPEChas rolledout several initiatives,
including compiling information on
the projected manpower needs for
the next five years. The initiatives also
include types and bulk of employment
as well as the required duration to plan
sectoral manpower supply according to
industrial needs.
The MPEC through JobCentre Brunei
(JCB) has also carried out proactive
job matching through recruitment
fairs, institution outreach and
‘Mukim
Connect’ sessions to ensure that local
job seekers register with JCB for job
opportunities and training sessions. As
a one-stop career centre, JCB provides
support and services for job seekers
and employers especially in the private
sector. Their services include job
matching; engagement sessions with
job seekers and employers including
outreach programmes; training or skill
up sessions to help job seekers increase
their employability; free of charge rental
for facilities including interview room,
auditorium, multipurpose hall and
collaborative space; and clearance letter
application for employers to hire foreign
workers for job positions lacking local
manpower supply.
JCB has also introduced new initiatives
to enhance its services and increase
accessibility to a portal such as an
express registration service; a Telegram
channel where job seekers can subscribe
for news and updates; virtual sessions for
job seekers and employers; and digital
subscription for job seekers to be notified
via e-mail for recommended jobs that
match their background and skills.
SkilledWorkforce
Another initiative that has been carried
out is collaboration with lifelong learning
providers and government agencies. The
Lifelong Learning Centre (L3C) under the
Ministry of Education (MoE) actively plans,
develops and implements programmes
in collaboration with lifelong learning
providers and government agencies.
L3C serves as a one-stop centre for
lifelong learning programmes comprising
four pillars – workforce development,
academic
upgrading,
community
development and personal development.
Based on the
Labour Force Survey
Report 2021
, a total of 212,400 were
employed in 2021, an increase of 0.6
per cent compared to the previous
year. Locals accounted for 71 per cent
of the total labour force, while the
remaining 29 per cent were non-locals.
The unemployment rate in 2021 was at
4.9 per cent, a decrease from 7.3 per
cent in 2020 especially among the local
population.
Among contributing factors in the
decrease of the unemployment rate
was that local job seekers have filled jobs
in several industrial sectors that were
previously dominated by foreign workers
such as industrial and construction,
transportation and storage, IT, service
activities and others. Population outside
the labour force has also increased,
especially for those who have furthered
their studies, undergone training
courses and have family or household
responsibilities, or have retired.