WITH an estimated population of 3.75 million, the Johor government has put in extra efforts to increase the employability rate of its citizens.

The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) under the Johor Skills Development Department’s master plan aims to train a skilled workforce to improve the employability and entrepreneurship of Malaysians.

“This comprehensive and well-coordinated plan will help to nurture local talents with the right skills to thrive as they face the challenging economy,” said R. Vidyanathan (pic), who is also the former Johor Unity and Human Resources Committee chairman.

Under the master plan, workforce talents are to be equipped with formal and informal learning on technical and vocational skills, critical and creative-thinking skills as well as high resistance and adaptability to the demanding work environment.

Besides training a skilled workforce, the state government provides a platform for the public to search for available job opportunities through Unit Swadaya Johor (SIJ).

Vidyanathan says the comprehensive and well-coordinated skills development plan will help to nurture local talents to face the challenging economy ahead.

SIJ is responsible for organising various career expos and several joint-venture programmes with key players such as the state education department.

The department is engaging with industry players on human capital development with the signing of a few memoranda of understanding between Forest City and higher education institutions such as Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Yayasan Pelajaran Johor Education Group.

Property developers have played an essential role in building townships and providing infrastructure that has helped in improving the state’s economy, which has directly and indirectly increased job opportunities in Johor.

Recognising the key industry players who have helped generate job opportunities in Johor, StarProperty.my Awards: Jewels of Johor returns for the second time this year.

The award honours industry stakeholders, investors, and property developers for their outstanding performance in developing Johor.

Last year, Gamuda Land and Country Garden Danga Bay Sdn Bhd bagged the Excellence awards in the Best Comprehen-sive Township and Best Water-front Development categories respectively.

Eco World Development Group Bhd was also one of the winners, as well as Ipark Development Sdn Bhd and UMLand Bhd.

The registration for this year’s Jewels of Johor award is open until July 25.

For details, visit http://bit.ly/JohorJewels2018.