Sarawak is hyped in the media. But does the job market say the same?
From free education, completed mega projects and ongoing ventures, I honestly admire to how far Sarawak has progressed growing up. Especially gaining more attention & public opinions from both the West Malaysia and far East Malaysia and at times, internationally.
However, I fear that I don’t think I can contribute career wise towards this state given the current rate that the working class make. I know a someone personally in Kuching that’s in a senior executive position—in a really known company, that’s almost retiring and still gets paid ridiculously low despite the workload and position—so low, that their family is eligible for bursary and financial aids.
My friends have been applying to jobs for semester breaks but only go far as job interviews without getting hired. When I was in KL, I got hired for my 2nd time application and able to live comfortably in a studio home back in 2024. And splurge myself from time to time and I applied without prior working experiences. Literally out of secondary school, after a few months break.
I have had a job interview in Kuching but employers would make me feel like I’m a bad person for wanting a liveable salary higher than low wages. Maybe not explicitly saying it but they tried so hard to lowball my value by making me feel spoiled or something.
Also I really hate the excuse of ‘business not doing well’ these employers make justifying why my friend should be payed less than minimum wage for 7 years and half of that wage starting college (full grown adult btw).
I eventually lower my expectations and accepting a part time job that pays RM50/day without complaining because I really needed money at that time. But this just puts me in a cognitive dissonance. Honestly I feel awful and I don’t think I want to be here anymore. I don’t even have any loans or commitments yet adding to that (Not that I plan to do so).
Do you think employers genuinely lowball local employees? Because from what I’ve been noticing, I have international friends that get’s hired and get treated fairly literally where I came from.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOOOVE Sarawak to the moon and back but if this is how my life is going to be then, I don’t think it’s worth it to stay. Even though I desperately want to build a life here.
And I’m not just talking about myself. I understand a little bit of economy and just wonder of the broader implications—if everybody feels the same and how it impacts the overall situation for Sarawakians looking for a better future in the same breath of the state sustaining their local talents.
This is currently how I feel. Because I have no one to say this to it’s either they invalidate my experiences or make me feel like I’m just entitled and opinionated or both. I just hope someone can read this and respond in a new light. Im really not in the right headspace just thinking about this.