Lim
ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) is reshaping many sectors, but human-led roles in healthcare and engineering remain in high demand, say experts.
Mahsa University Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing and Education School of Nursing head Assoc Prof Dr Lim Gek Mui said nursing and physiotherapy are expected to stay in high demand in the future.
“Nursing has the highest demand in healthcare, and has consistently maintained this status. You will always be able to find a job in nursing.
“The second healthcare field with high demand is physiotherapy. It plays a crucial role in rehabilitation after surgeries or injuries. As our knowledge and economic stability progress, the demand for physiotherapy will also grow,” she said.
She added that many countries introduced the hospital-at-home concept after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“With hospital-at-home, resources and mindset shift. You’re not only serving patients in hospitals but also those at home. Over the next decade, healthcare will be very different,” she said.
SEGi University and Colleges Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology department head Dr King Yeong Jin said while AI will replace some engineering jobs, it will also create new ones.
“AI still needs humans to design, build, improve and manage it.
“Engineers develop the algorithms and systems that enable AI to function. As long as we need physical products like clothes, chairs and cars, we will still need engineers,” he asserted.
He, however, posited that while five engineers might have been required to produce a product in the past, modern systems may only require two.
“That’s the evolution, but the others will still be needed to manage the AI systems,” he said.
King
Agreeing, Lim said while AI and automation bring benefits to the healthcare industry, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
“Human moderation is still necessary to understand, manage and monitor AI.
“When we talk about AI, we need to look at the risks related to authenticity, privacy and confidentiality,” she said.
Lim also addressed concerns that the future healthcare industry will face manpower challenges, even as demand increases.
“Working in healthcare requires a lot of passion, and the hours and shift duties may not appeal to young people.
“To cope with this, they need to prepare themselves mentally and psychologically, especially in nursing,” she said.
She also noted that the future will bring challenges in human interaction.
“The younger generation is tech-savvy but communicates differently. They will need to care for our generation, which values human touch. This difference in communication and understanding could present challenges,” she said.
Students can prepare for these challenges by studying behavioural science, she explained.
“Understanding human psychology, sociology, and the developmental stages of life will enable them to interact effectively with patients, including the elderly. Knowing how patients feel will help them provide better psychological care,” she said.
To prepare future engineers, King said universities now offer holistic education to cover multiple disciplines.
“The goal is to ensure that graduates can adapt easily. Engineers need to be adaptable because changes are happening rapidly,” he said.
King added that the demand for engineering jobs depends on a country’s direction.
“For example, in Malaysia, you can see growth in the energy and automation sectors. Energy involves electrical and mechanical engineering, while AI and automation lean towards mechatronics engineering.
“Civil engineering remains essential as infrastructure is needed to support all this development,” he said.
To students considering engineering as a career, King advised: First of all, you have to like science and maths. You cannot avoid them; they are the basic knowledge you need. If you are passionate about creating new things that benefit humanity, engineering is a good field for you.”
To those considering healthcare, Lim said: “If you enjoy helping others, especially those in need or less fortunate, and feel satisfied and happy doing so, that is the most important characteristic.”
Weighing in on healthcare as a career option, United Kingdom Education Centre (UKEC) senior education counsellor Sharifah Aisyah Syed Yahya urged students to specialise, as doing so can give them a competitive edge.
The health sector, she said, offers various in-demand specialisations, such as chiropractic care and speech and language therapy, that go beyond medicine.
Tech tycoons like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, she noted, are driving innovations at the intersection of technology and healthcare.
“If you are interested in healthcare but don’t necessarily want to be a doctor, you can combine healthcare with technology, for instance, by working in prosthetics and developing advanced prosthetic devices.
“And if you are keen on engineering, you can consider niche areas like fire or structural engineering,” she said, adding that while many are focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers, there are equally bright prospects in the arts and humanities.
“In media, for example, careers are not limited to mass communications or public relations. You can explore fields like creative writing, journalism, or even visual effects for television, all of which offer promising career paths,” she said.
She added that copywriters and content writers who specialise in the digital and technical industry are especially sought after by employers, as these areas require specific expertise that not all writers can provide.
“Additionally, there is also demand for linguistics professionals, particularly as companies become more internationally involved and seek multilingual translators,” she said.
Industry trends
The digital economy, said City University Malaysia Faculty of Business Management dean Assoc Prof Dr Masri Abdul Lasi, has reshaped the workforce, placing a premium on technical know-how with an emphasis on soft skills like leadership and communication (see infographic).
“Many companies now prioritise candidates with specialised knowledge in these areas, and are effectively seeking them out.“These organisations are offering attractive salaries because such qualities not only ensure employees can contribute to an evolving work landscape but also allow companies to remain competitive, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
He said digital transformation has left its print on the country’s top 10 job industries, namely, manufacturing and production; banking; construction; information technology (IT); healthcare; retail; property; telecommunications; education and electrical and electronics.
“For example, digital transformation has made banking and financial services more accessible and convenient but the shift to digital platforms has also introduced new challenges, particularly in terms of cybersecurity.
“This has made financial institutions that handle a huge amount of money and sensitive data an attractive target for cyber criminals, creating lucrative roles within the IT industry like web security experts, with salaries matching the high demand,” he said.
Citing another example, Masri said ecommerce is reshaping Malaysia’s retail sector, pushing traditional retailers to adopt digital platforms and strategies.
“Digital marketers, supply chain analysts, and customer experience managers are crucial for ensuring seamless online shopping experiences,” he said, adding that as ecommerce continues to grow, these roles are becoming not only relevant but highly profitable, as businesses increasingly invest in digital expertise to stay competitive.
The economy, said Management and Science University (MSU) engagement manager Sharul Azwan Hamzah, has undergone significant changes since the pandemic.
“When discussing career opportunities, it’s important to recognise that some fields have grown more important over time.
“For example, when people think about cybersecurity, they often assume it’s only relevant to the IT sector. This is not true.
“With the rise of cyber threats affecting us daily, cybersecurity has become a broad and essential field,” he said, adding that people are shopping online more often now compared to before the pandemic when they preferred visiting physical stores.
“Industries like logistics, business computing, and ecommerce offer promising job opportunities, as these sectors have high employability rates due to the growing demand for digital services, product management, and visual content,” he said.
He also shared that the halal industry is growing, with more online shoppers asking on shopping sites whether businesses are halal certified.
This industry, he said, is especially important in Muslim-majority countries like Malaysia.
“The halal certification programme at MSU is not an Islamic studies course but rather a health science degree, with many students from medical or science-related fields choosing to pursue it due to the high demand for professionals in the halal sector.
“Students pursuing this degree should have a background in science because the role involves more than just issuing halal certifications; it requires extensive lab testing,” he said.
