Foreign firms face labour shortage

After political changes occurred in the country between 2011 and 2012, the international community has taken more interest in  the resource-rich Southeast Asian country. 

With more businesses setting up here, the demand for skilled workers has also increased.

“Scarcity of human resource is a hurdle for foreign investments.  There are not enough skilled engineers, geologists and architects in the country,” said Evelin Petkov, director of Hong Kong-based Bagan Capital Co, a consultant firm for investment in Myanmar.

Foreign businesses are investing in oil and natural gas exploration, electricity, mining, manufacturing, hotel and tourism, real estate, livestock and fisheries, transport and communication.

They include firms from the United States, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China, Russia and Hong Kong.

 “At least five foreign business groups every week come to discuss with their local counterparts mainly about employment affairs. They already have technical knowledge. They demand experienced workers,” said managing director U Tin Kyaw Zan of Device Services Co.

Analysts said there are few skilled workers because many of them have moved overseas while the rest are not qualified.

“Young people have left for foreign countries due to lack of employment opportunities in the country and some experienced workers went outside because of unreasonable salary, resulting in the shortage of skilled workers in the country,” said managing director U Aung Din of Nature Lovers Tourism Company. 

More Myanmar youths have migrated to foreign countries since 2000.  The brain drain widely occurred after 2005. Engineers, dentists, accountants, IT technicians and office clerks are majority of those who have left and sought job opportunities elsewhere.

Scarcity of job opportunities has become noticeable before 2010 and the ratio of job vacancies and unemployment became high.

U Tin Zan Kyaw said: “The number of job seekers to increasing demand is still high. It is easy for candidates to get basic jobs, but the most experienced and skilled employees are rare. Most of the experienced employees do not want to move to other companies. Their bosses also do not want their employees to quit their jobs”.

Among foreign countries, Japan is very keen to invest especially in the service sector.

The director of Japan business group Keidanren said: “We know on-the-job training is very important.” He expressed his concern that Myanmar citizens might not be able to get job opportunities if lack of skills continues to be a problem.