Brunei’s unemployment rate might be down, but not everyone’s celebrating.

Officials speak of progress. Jobseekers speak of exhaustion. Somewhere between the two lies the real story of unemployment in Brunei.

By Malai Hassan Othman

The Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (DEPS) reported that unemployment dropped from 5.1% in 2023 to 4.7% in 2024. Officials are calling it progress, pointing out stronger hiring in the private sector and successful programs like JobCentre Brunei and the i-Ready apprenticeship scheme. 

However, job seekers and others on the ground are responding with scepticism. Many say the numbers don’t match their reality - they’re dealing with months of job applications that go unanswered and temporary gigs that don’t lead to permanent positions.

During the 2025 Legislative Council session, the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, shared that the overall unemployment rate for those aged 15 and older is now at 4.8%. 

But he warned that the government “must not get too comfortable.” He noted that job growth mainly came from a 4% increase in private-sector jobs, which now make up about 70% of Brunei’s workforce. 

He mentioned that over 1,600 job openings were available through career fairs and training partnerships last year, leading to several hundred successful job placements. 

At the launch of Jelajah Kerjaya 2025, Dato Amin Liew said more than 500 positions were filled in last year’s fair, highlighting that the platform connects job seekers with real opportunities through partnerships between the government and industry.

Still, youth unemployment is a big concern. The Labour Force Survey 2024 showed that although the overall rate dropped, youth unemployment actually rose to 18.3% from 16.8% the year before. 

Average monthly earnings also took a hit, dropping from BND 1,758 to BND 1,686, with over a quarter of workers putting in more than 48 hours a week, many in low-paying or temporary roles. 

Analysts describe this situation as a misleading calm: the overall rate might look better, but lots of people are still underpaid, overworked, or not working in jobs that match their qualifications.

When you look at the region, Brunei’s unemployment numbers still lag behind its neighbours. Malaysia’s youth unemployment rate was 10.8% in 2024, and Singapore’s was at 6.6% - both lower than Brunei’s 18.3%. 

Economists say this gap points to deeper issues: slower private-sector job growth, limited industry diversity, and a mismatch between education and job market needs that hasn’t been fully addressed.

The government has invested over BND 20 million each year since 2018 into initiatives like JobCentre Brunei and the i-Ready program, stabilising spending at about BND 19 million a year. 

But despite this hefty investment, the results have been disappointing. Internal reviews in 2020 showed that only about one in three i-Ready participants landed permanent jobs. 

Employers were often found to be using the program to fill temporary roles with subsidised labour instead of keeping trainees on. 

So, much of the funding ended up going toward short-term assistance rather than lasting jobs. 

Many i-Ready participants say this trend continues, describing their experience as “experience without exit,” while others admit they’re back on the job hunt soon after their contracts wrap up.

Some job seekers voiced similar frustrations in public discussions, noting that job fairs can create buzz but don’t always lead to long-term gigs. 

One commenter said it felt “encouraging at first, but many of us go back to the same job search once the event ends.” 

This perspective was polite yet honest, indicating that what seems promising on the surface doesn’t always result in solid outcomes.

The Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS), Brunei’s national think tank, has consistently called for deeper, more meaningful reforms - not just short-term fixes, but real solutions to tackle unemployment at its roots. 

This includes aligning university and technical education with industry needs, promoting local hiring in the private sector, reducing the pay gap between government and private jobs, and diversifying the economy beyond oil and gas. 

CSPS also suggested that the government gather clearer data to identify who is unemployed, underemployed, or working part-time out of necessity. 

They recommended stronger connections between education and jobs, better incentives for employers to hire locals, and more transparency in assessing government programs. 

The think tank even proposed exploring new ideas like a fairer national minimum wage or testing a basic income scheme to help job seekers stay afloat while looking for stable work.

Several thoughtful voices in the public have echoed these concerns, pointing out that Brunei produces thousands of graduates each year but offers only a limited number of stable, long-term jobs. 

One netizen noted gently that “it’s getting harder to find permanent jobs because many roles only last a year or two before being replaced.” 

This sentiment reflects a growing public understanding that a serious alignment between training, industry demand, and job creation is long overdue.

For now, the official message continues to swing between optimism and caution. Each year follows a familiar pattern - progress is announced, complacency is warned against, mindsets are urged to change, and diversification is stressed. 

As many Bruneians would say, “tahun-tahun sama saja pantunnya” - year after year, it’s the same old promises and reminders. Online, a young graduate shared a similar feeling, saying that talks about unemployment “sound the same every year,” indicating that many are quietly hoping for not just new plans, but real results they can see in their daily lives.

Among everyday Bruneians, confidence in the job market remains shaky. Many take the latest figures with “a pinch of salt,” as one observer put it. 

They see the unemployment rate going down, but not the lines outside the JobCentre. They hear about success stories, but not enough to feel like things have really changed. For them, true progress isn’t just a number on paper; it’s about finding steady jobs, building careers, and providing for their families without relying on temporary solutions.

A young graduate who finished an i-Ready placement last year put it simply: “We don’t want sympathy. We just want work that matters - something that lasts.”

The government insists that reforms are in the works and that meaningful change takes time. 

But until policies turn into real, lasting jobs, the gap between the official narrative and everyday life will keep testing public trust. 

In a country aiming for the goals of Wawasan 2035 - to be educated, skilled, and prosperous - the challenge isn’t just to lower unemployment; it’s to restore hope that every effort and every dollar spent leads to work that truly matters. (MHO/11/2025)