Brunei's jobless rate down

The number of job seekers aged between 18 and 59 years in Brunei Darussalam decreased to 11,093 in September this year from 12,524 in August, official data showed on Saturday.

The country's Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPD) said that out of the total, the number of male job seekers in September decreased from 5,509 in August to 4,947, while that of female job seekers fell to 6,146 from 7,015.

In terms of qualification, 63.2 percent of the job seekers in September, or 7,006, were those who hold secondary school certificates. They are followed by job seekers from technical and vocational schools, totalling 417 or 12.8 percent. Those who graduated from the tertiary level comprised 1,134 people or 10.2 percent.

By the age bar chart, the largest number of job seekers are those aged between 20 to 24 years with a total of 3,215, compared with 3,482 a month before.

According to the DEPD, government and private sectors play an important role in opening job opportunities through the current government policies.

The private sector is encouraged to give priority to local job seeker. Every employer should also provide opportunities to local workers through systematic training program for the needs of skilled workforce in the future other than ensuring that the welfare of local workers are given equal terms with foreign workers.

The DEPD also suggested local job seekers not to be too choosy about work, in view of the fact that getting a job currently is not that easy when faced with more competitive labour markets. Enditem