GOVT TO BOOST TVET TO OVERCOME SHORTAGE OF SKILLED CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY MANPOWER - NANTA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- The government is taking proactive steps to address the issue of skilled manpower shortage in the construction industry through the implementation and coordination of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said the initiative was led by Deputy Prime Minister and National TVET Council chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is responsible for coordinating various TVET efforts in government agencies.

"This coordination does not mean that all government agencies are unified, but rather to ensure that TVET training in each agency such as the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), MARA and other ministries runs in a more structured and integrated manner," he said.

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He told reporters after opening the International Construction Week (ICW) and the Malaysia International Building and Construction Industry Exhibition (BuildXpo) 2025 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here, today.

For the Ministry of Works, Nanta said TVET programmes are being implemented in agencies such as CIDB and MARA to increase skilled manpower, especially in the engineering field in the future.

“We also encourage young people in universities to enter the engineering field so that the country’s construction industry is not affected by a shortage of skilled manpower,” he said.

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Earlier in his speech, Nanta said skilled labour shortages, rising material costs and climate pressures are among the challenges faced by the construction industry in Asia.

“Yet, the industry has proven resilient and adaptive. Even as over 70 per cent of developers reported rising operational costs, and 60 per cent faced labour and material constraints, Malaysia’s construction sector continues to anchor domestic investment and sustain growth, as affirmed in Bank Negara’s Financial Stability Review H1 2025,” he said.

Nanta said according to Bank Negara Malaysia and the Department of Statistics, the construction sector grew by 14.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, with the value of work done reaching RM42.9 billion.

He said that momentum continued in the second quarter this year, where the value of work done climbed further to RM43.9 billion, representing 12.9 per cent year-on-year growth.

He noted that across the first half of the year, total construction activity reached RM86.8 billion, a 14.7 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

"This growth was driven mainly by the private sector, which accounted for over 63 per cent of total work signaling strong investor confidence in Malaysia's construction and infrastructure outlook," he added.

-- BERNAMA