SKILLED WORKFORCE

On average, the market sees 6,500 local jobseekers every year. Of this figure, a total of 2,600 are graduates holding Bachelor’s Degrees and higher qualifications. The number of new jobseekers is expected to increase every year with the annual increase in the national population, said Minister of Energy Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein at the 15th Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting in 2019.

Several steps have been formulated to ensure that human resources are used effectively including the continuous development of skills and competencies for locals according to industry requirements. Jobseekers are also encouraged to venture into the private sector.

JobCentre Brunei (JCB), which officially began its operations in 2017, is open to all local jobseekers and companies. The centre strives to be a “one-stop career centre”, where local jobseekers can use the services available to improve their employability and marketability in the job market. Private companies may also use the centre’s facilities to recruit locals.

The centre offers career counselling, online training, digital literacy, as well as assistance on CV writing and interviews. Also available are interviewing rooms, meeting rooms and auditorium facilities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Various programmes and platforms for locals to learn new skills according to industry needs have been introduced such as the i-Ready Apprentice programme.

The i-Ready programme is an apprenticeship scheme that runs for three years and is open to Bachelor’s Degree graduates and higher qualifications. The programme offers an opportunity for graduates to gain work experience and skills or venture into fields outside their academic qualifications.

As of March 16, 2019, a total of 2,098 graduates have joined the i-Ready programme since its inception on April 1, 2017. Out of these 2,098 graduates, 524 have secured permanent jobs before the end of the programme.

In 2018, seven graduates were selected to start their career abroad with Deloitte in the consulting practice under the i-Ready programme. Four new graduates were selected by the company in 2019 to fill entry-level consulting, audit and assurance positions.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Capacity Building (PPK) is a multi-programme skill training centre. The delivery of training programmes is conducted by registered training organisations based on approved syllabus adapted from international training or leading industry institutions. Previously in 2019, among the programmes offered are for people looking to become blaster painter operators, heavy vehicle drivers, insulators, riggers, scaffolders, welders and sales assistants.

PPK’s mission is to produce job-ready prospects through the alignment of skills and industrial development in the country.

The centre strives to become the blueprint, model and leader in skills training to enable a competent national workforce for Brunei Darussalam and the region.