Job market ripe for young people

November 5, 2017

A panel discussion titled “Youth and Job opportunities” was held at the recreation centre in Yangon University yesterday.

Dr. Pe Myint, the Union Minister for Information, said at the event that the discussion was open for everyone to voice their opinion in a democratic and non-aggressive way.

Also at the event was the Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein who said he wanted to listen to the voice of the people from all 45 townships in Yangon.

He said there needs to be active participation from the public in the democratization process. The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Information for organizing the event.

Dr. Daw Thida Tin, the Deputy Director-General of the Department for Information and Public Relations, said according to FDA reports, young people make up 28-30 per cent of the population in Myanmar and said they are the hope for the future.

She said young people need a steady job in their beginning years and one that also matched their level of education.

Dr. Daw Thida Tin said the rules and regulations for conducting business in Myanmar and other connected sectors need to be developed to created job opportunities. She then said the discussion will be continued by five spokesperson on what young people should prepare for getting a job and what the government is doing to meet these needs.

The discussion panel was opened with Naw Pann Thitzar Myo, the Minister for Kayin Ethnic Affairs, saying the workforce in Yangon is increasing as more and more people from rural areas migrate into commercial Yangon. She said young female workers makeup the majority of the workforce in the 29 economic zones in Yangon with 70 per cent of them working in the textile and garment industry and the other 30 per cent engaged in industrial work.

The next speaker was U Wai Phyo Han, the Yangon Hluttaw representative from Insein Constituency (2).

He talked about the difficulties of finding a job in Yangon and how there are instances of young people accepting jobs they’re not interested in due to scarcity of opportunities. He said these are not good for personal development and that young people need skills in order to get good jobs.

Next, U Aung Htay Win, the Deputy Director for the Department of Labor Administration, discussed about the process of the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population in connecting potential workers with employers.

He also explained the history of the ministry which was established as the Employment Contact Office in 1946.

U Win Naing from JPE Everest Ltd., a local job agency, shared his experiences of connecting people seeking jobs to employers.

He said that the type of job that pays well and is accessible depends on the individual’s skill. He said the areas with the most job opportunities in the country right now are in sales and marketing, engineering, admin and HR.

Afterwards, U Than Soe, CEO and Chief Editor of 7 HR Business Group and Two Four DMA Media Group, said there are more job opportunities in recent years since social media is an easily accessible platform for job advertisements.

He said employees and workers now have the right to speak out against bad jobs and that employers are becoming more aware of keeping regulations. He said the most advertised jobs are for HR and Admin followed by Sales and Marketing, Accountants, Drivers, and Security Personnel in areas like Hotels, Distribution, Food, Liquor and Construction.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar