PUTRAJAYA, Oct 27 — A total of 99,030 jobs are expected to be created through 2,746 approved investment projects in the first half of 2026 (H1), allowing more Malaysians to fill high-skill jobs and enjoy better incomes.
Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) secretary-general Datuk Hairil Yahri Yaacob said Malaysia recorded RM218.5 billion in approved investments in H1, up 11.7 per cent from the same period last year.
He said national investment success should not be measured only by the amount invested, but also by technology transfer, local talent development, and higher worker incomes.
“The more important question is, how much technology can Malaysians master? How many local talents can fill technical and professional positions? How many local companies can climb to higher value chains?” he said in a speech text at the Academy in Industry (ADI) Media Awards here today, read by MITI deputy secretary-general (investment and management) Jaya Singam Rajoo.
Also in attendance were Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) chairman Datuk Kamaruzzaman Johari, MPC chief executive Mohamad Norjayadi Tamam, and Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) president Datuk Yong Soo Heong.
Hairil said developing hi-tech industries, including semiconductor, aerospace, smart manufacturing, AI, and green technology, must go hand in hand with efforts to create a local workforce with relevant skills.
He added that bringing advanced technology into the country will not deliver maximum benefits if the industry still lacks local technicians, engineers, and a professional workforce capable of operating, utilising and developing the technology.
“That is why the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP) emphasises high-value industries, economic diversification, and the adoption of technology. Whether in semiconductors, aerospace, smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, or green technology, investments and talent development must move in tandem,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Hairil said the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) targets a median monthly salary of RM3,500 by 2030, along with increasing the share of employee compensation to 40 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
He said this target must be supported by 3.6 per cent annual labour productivity growth through technology use, skills upgrading, and more efficient work processes.
Hairil urged efforts to increase the number of skilled workers, as this group represented only 30.1 per cent of the total workforce in 2025 compared with the national target of 35 per cent by 2030.
In this regard, he said implementing ADI through the “Place and Train” approach, which lets participants work while receiving training based on employers’ needs, has become an important instrument to bridge the country’s skills gap.
He added that the approach supports the government’s efforts to reduce dependence on foreign labour in a structured manner.
“A total of 2.13 million foreign workers, or 12.7 per cent of the 16.77 million employed persons, were recorded in the second quarter of 2026. The 13MP sets a target for the share of foreign workers to 10 per cent by 2030,” he said.
Hairil thus urged employers to view workers’ training as a strategic investment rather than incidental cost, and to provide guidance and career advancement pathways after hiring.
Meanwhile, MPC chairman Datuk Kamaruzzaman Johari said that as of last October, 15,893 talents have been placed through the ADI initiative, with 3,064 companies participating, to bridge the skills gap and provide quality jobs.
He said this achievement proves that strategic cooperation between the government and industry players can translate into real job opportunities, thereby supporting the national labour market reform agenda.
However, he noted that more companies need to participate in the initiative to ensure local talent development continues to grow in line with economic changes and industry needs.
However, he said more companies must participate in the initiative to ensure local talent development grows in line with economic changes and industry needs.
“ADI is not just a training or job placement programme, but an instrument for labour market reform that connects the actual needs of industries with the potential of the local workforce.
“This approach helps close the skills gap, strengthen employability, and ensure talent development keeps pace with economic changes,” he said.
Kamaruzzaman added that an industry-based training approach that combines 80 per cent on-the-job learning with 20 per cent theory and competence reinforcement enables participants to gain real-world experience, not just academic qualifications.
