KOTA KINABALU, Aug 23 — Sabah’s unemployment rate declined to 5.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 from six per cent in the fourth quarter of last year, reflecting positive developments in the state’s labour market.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said Sabah recorded the most significant reduction in unemployment among all states in Malaysia during the first quarter of this year.

He said the improvement reflected the effectiveness of policies and initiatives implemented by the state government, supported by cooperation with Federal agencies.

“Through the efforts of the Ministry of Human Resources (Kesuma) and the Social Security Organisation (Socso), a total of 71,821 job placements were recorded in Sabah from 2020 to July 24, 2026.

“This reflects the government’s continued commitment to helping Sabahans secure employment and improve their economic well-being,” he said in a speech read by Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun during the launch of the MYFutureJobs X Oil & Gas Kota Kinabalu 2026 Career Carnival at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said career carnivals were more than just platforms for employers to recruit workers, as they also helped connect local talent with industry needs.

He said more than 327 career carnivals and programmes had been organised in Sabah from January to July 24 this year, attracting over 11,000 jobseekers.

“Through the national employment services platform MYFutureJobs, more than 95,000 vacancies have been offered, while the number of employers in Sabah registered on the portal has reached 15,000,” he said.

Khairul Firdaus said Kesuma was also implementing a paradigm shift to strengthen Sabah’s labour market through the Sabah Talent Development Centre (STDC), which serves as a strategic platform integrating talent development with industry requirements and labour market information.

He said the initiative focused on upskilling and improving the employability of the workforce, while Kesuma would further strengthen collaboration between the federal and state governments, industry players, educational institutions and training providers.

“This is to ensure local talent remains responsive, competitive and aligned with the employment needs of the future,” he said.

The two-day MYFutureJobs X Oil & Gas Career Carnival at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here brought together 30 leading employers from the oil and gas and related sectors, offering more than 3,000 job opportunities with salaries of up to RM12,000 a month.

The carnival is part of efforts to expand access to employment opportunities in the oil and gas industry for graduates, jobseekers and local talent.

Following the Sabah edition, a similar carnival will be held in Sarawak at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) from October 17 to 18.

Members of the public can visit www.myfuturejobs.gov.my to apply for available positions and obtain further information on the MYFutureJobs Career Carnival and other job opportunities. — The Borneo Post