Brunei witnessed a slight increase in its employment rate, rising from 4.9 per cent in 2021 to 5.2 per cent in 2022, according to the recently released Labour Force Survey Report 2022, conducted by the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics under the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
The positive trend indicates progress in the country’s labour market compared to the higher unemployment rate of 7.3 per cent recorded in 2020.
Acting Head of the Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC) Secretariat Hajah Noraini binti Haji Mohamad Jamudin emphasised the importance of continued collaboration through whole-of-nation and whole-of-government approaches during her address at the third edition of the Program Akar Umbi or Grassroots Programme held in the Tutong District.
The event, at the official residence of the Tutong District Officer, aimed to shed light on achievements and statistics related to job seekers in the Tutong District.
It also provided a platform to highlight initiatives by JobCentre Brunei, including the establishment of Satellite Offices in all districts, offering direct services to job seekers, such as account registration, job matching consultations, Curriculum Vitae writing assistance, interview skill development, and opportunities for upskilling and reskilling.
Hajah Noraini stressed that the programme’s focus was to address the employment-related challenges faced by local residents.
It sought to promote understanding, strengthen relationships, and facilitate discussions with penghulu (village chiefs) and village heads, who are grassroots leaders, to collaborate on efforts to enhance employability, marketability, and skills development among the local population.
Hajah Noraini expressed gratitude to penghulus and village heads for their ongoing commitment to realising Goal 1 of Brunei Vision 2035, aiming to ensure that the people of Brunei Darussalam are well-educated, highly skilled, and accomplished.
MPEC Secretariat at the Prime Minister’s Office organised the programme as part of its efforts to raise awareness and understanding of its establishment, function, roles, and initiatives.
Acting Tutong District Officer Awangku Arif Anuar bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad as the guest of honour, alongside penghulus, acting penghulus, village heads, and acting village heads from the Tutong District. Presentations on the MPEC Secretariat and JobCentre Brunei services were delivered by Khairunnisa Nadiah binti Abdul Ghani and Qairawani binti Haji Yacob. – Azlan Othman
