IPOH: The demand for public sector jobs is expected to rise following the seven to 15% increase in wages for government servants announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, says Public Service Commission (SPA) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus.

He said applicants should be prepared to compete for jobs in the civil service.

Ahmad Jailani stated that they receive hundreds of thousands of job applications annually, and those interested in working in the civil service must possess competitive skills and knowledge to be considered.

“The process of applying for jobs in the government is now different compared to last time; there’s more competition now.

“The people need to equip themselves with the know-how on how to fill out forms and answer psychometric tests, which will determine the success of getting an interview,” he said after visiting the SPA@Perak Open Day at the Ipoh Convention Centre here yesterday.

“There are also some other skills that need to be learnt to do well in an interview.”

Ahmad Jailani also said that he expected more youths to apply for jobs with the government following the Prime Minister’s announcement on increased salaries for civil servants.

He said the announcement would provide the motivation for them to apply for jobs in the public service sector.

“They know the rates and can see the increase. What’s important is the job security in the public sector. I expect more will apply, and we will only have the data in the first quarter of next year to get a clearer picture,” he added.

Anwar on Friday announced a 15% pay raise for officers under the implementing, management and professional groups and a 7% hike for officers in top management and professional roles.

The increment will be implemented in two phases, the first in December this year and the second in January 2026.

Ahmad Jailani also said the SPA was prepared to receive more applications and would vet the job applications thoroughly.

“We will improve the efficiency of our methods as requested by the Prime Minister to increase productivity,” he added.

Ahmad Jailani also advised those interested in applying for jobs with the SPA to get accurate information from official sources to prevent them from being scammed.

He said the SPA has websites, physical offices and social media platforms that people can get information from.

“They can also call or email us. People need to be wise to prevent themselves from being scammed,” he said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/18/job-demand-may-surge