The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the tourism and hospitality industry in Malaysia particularly hard.

A recent JobStreet survey showed that 63 percent of workers in the travel agency sector, 66 percent working in hospitality sector, and 60 percent employed in the food and beverage industry were either retrenched or are temporarily unemployed.

However, the job portal found that the industry is slowly recovering as job advertisements had increased by 22.8 percent from May till June 2020, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

To reinvigorate the tourism industry, the government allocated RM 1 billion under the Penjana Tourism Financing (PTF) to ensure the industry remains viable and competitive in the new normal, New Straits Times reports.

The implementation of the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) beginning June 10 has allowed many activities and business operations to resume which enables and encourages various industries, especially the domestic tourism and hospitality industry to be back on track.

“A JobStreet survey shows that in the next six months, even hard-hit sectors like the tourism industry will be lifting hiring freeze.

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“We are confident with the government’s support through Penjana coupled with Tourism Malaysia aggressively promoting domestic tourism, this will boost job opportunities in this sector,” said JobStreet country manager Gan Bock Herm.

JobStreet has also seen an increase of 64 percent in job advertisements posted from April to June 2020 for Junior Executive level roles and increase of 47 percent for Manager roles in the tourism and hospitality industry.

For those who are interested to work in the tourism industry and are looking to gain a competitive edge in the Malaysian job market, JobStreet has the relevant resources required.

“In response to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, JobStreet launched its #TogetherAhead initiative and #WorkNow feature which connects employers to candidates who are available to work immediately. By simply updating the Additional Info section in your JobStreet profile, you can let potential employers know that you are ready to #WorkNow.

“With #TogetherAhead initiative, we hope to support job seekers and employers, making sure it’s business as usual for everyone, even amid the pandemic,” Gan added.

#TogetherAhead includes the Covid-19 Jobs and Resources Hub, a microsite that helps both employers and jobseekers navigate the new normal, providing access to relevant trends, offering expert advice, and helping make the hiring process easier for both parties.

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