89% of Malaysians need to upskill to work in a digital environment

Digitalization is often seen as a threat to the labor market, as many employees are concerned that automation may result in redundancy. However, a report by Randstad Malaysia showed that close to nine in 10 Malaysia-based workforce (89%) are positive that digital technology presents them with new opportunities.

According to the Workmonitor quarterly report, employees and job seekers in Malaysia are aware that they need to upskill to take advantage of these opportunities that come with technological advancements and new innovations. Close to nine in 10 respondents (89%) said that they will need to acquire new skills if they want to work in a digital-led environment. 93% are willing to personally acquire these skills to guarantee their employability.

69% of the respondents said that their employer is investing in new technologies within the field of AI such as machine learning, robotics, and automation.

More than eight in 10 respondents (81%) agreed that these emerging technologies will have a positive impact on their job in the next five to 10 years. While 82% think that their employers should provide them with adequate training to acquire new digital skills and increase productivity, only 63% said that their employers are doing so. In fact, 76% are taking matters into their own hands, stating that they are investing in themselves to learn about AI.

In Malaysia, 80% of survey respondents said that students are being taught and exposed to the right digital skills that will help prepare them for the future workforce. Compared to the previous quarter, job satisfaction had decreased to 71%. The percentage of respondents who are actively looking for a job had increased from 15.8% to 17.3% in quarter four.

Approximately 50% of the respondents said that they had changed job in the past six months, a decrease from 48% in the previous quarter.