Examines the unemployment trends in Peninsular Malaysia during the 1970s. Reasons why economists regard unemployment as undesirable; Principal sources of information on unemployment in Malaysia; Unemployment data from 1962-1982; Determinants of interstate variation in unemployment rates in 1980.

Addresses the question of youth unemployment in Peninsular Malaysia. Analysis of both individual and structural determinants; Conventional economic theory of labor force development; Basic determinants of labor underutilization; Structural aspects of the economy that inhibit the employment of potential workers.

The results in this paper show that the relative demand for higher educated workers have been increasing amidst increasing relative supply for the period of analysis. Relative wages for this period have also been increasing, highlighting the possibility of an increased demand for higher educated workers in Malaysia. Our results also show that there are higher returns accrued to the higher levels of education, namely at the pre-university and higher education level. This condition of higher returns to higher levels of education is possible given the stages of rapid industrialisation in Malaysia.  Publication: 4th International Malaysian Studies Conference; 3-5 August 2004, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi. Author: Chung, Tsung Ping. 

This paper is concerned with people management practices in companies in Malaysia. It examines the development of the main practice areas of the management of human resources (HR), the HR management (HRM) function and to what extent locallyowned companies (LOC) are influenced by multinational companies (MNC) operating in Malaysia. We found LOCs do not place a high priority on their HR practices and do not benchmark against the HR practices of MNCs. Overall, Malaysian people management generally would be better characterized as still more like 'personnel', than 'HR', management. Any acceptance and development of the HRM concept by Malaysian companies has been slow and cautious. This situation may prove problematic for future competitiveness and upgrading in the context of low wage cost competition from other countries.

Author: Azidin Wan Abdul Kadir. Publication: MIERScan, 25 September 2006.

Abstract:
Securing a healthy economic growth amid political stability is essential to achieve Malaysia’s developmental goals. Stable economic growth has managed to partly solve problems such as poverty and unemployment. For an average person, a healthy economy means better job opportunities and higher income. This has become critical with the significant rise in the cost of living following hikes in fuel prices.