Closer look: TalentCorp employees (from left) G. Sauntharya, Brian Choong Wai Seng, Fiffi Lostari and Syaza Nazura looking at the report after the launch at Mitec in Kuala Lumpur. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: With about 600,000 workers expected to be affected by rapid technological development, a study by the Human Resources Ministry would be able to serve as a guide for employees navigating through these changes, says Steven Sim.
The Human Resources Minister said the report, spearheaded by Talent Corporation Malaysia (TalentCorp), was the first of its kind and would benefit various stakeholders, including employers and students.
“Technology can replace jobs, but it can also create new career paths and opportunities.
“This is why for us in the Human Resources Ministry, it is important to have a map of the future.
“The impact study would not only help each sector plan ahead but also allow workers in current roles, which will be impacted in the next few years, to be alerted,” he said at the launch of the Impact Study of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital and Green Economy on the Malaysian Workforce held at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) here yesterday.
For the first phase, Sim said 10 key sectors were selected due to their high impact on the national economy.
He added that these sectors represented about 60% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), contributing RM933bil annually, and employing 3.5 million workers or 31% of the total skilled and semi-skilled workforce.
The sectors are aerospace, chemicals, electrical and electronics, energy and power, food processing and services, global business services, information and communication technology, medical devices, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and wholesale and retail trade.
TalentCorp group chief executive officer Thomas Matthew said the report is a comprehensive strategic blueprint designed to address the impact of changes on the Malaysian workforce.
He said some 150 workshops, discussions and meetings – involving over 300 stakeholders across government, industry, and academia – were held to formulate a strategy that is inclusive, adaptive, and responsive to Malaysia’s evolving economic landscape.
“Malaysia stands at a critical juncture. Global forces like AI, digitalisation, and the green economy are redefining industries and reshaping work.
“We are a nation poised for growth, with a youth-driven demographic advantage and strong investor interest in sectors like electrical and electronics (E&E), manufacturing, and global business services,” he said.
Matthew said there was a need to address the dual challenge of harnessing new job opportunities while managing possible role redundancies.
He added that TalentCorp’s mandate was to identify critical skills and address talent gaps affecting Malaysia’s national growth.
One key component, he said, is the MyMahir Future Skills Talent Council, a sector-based, industry-led initiative aligned with International Labour Organisation best practices.
Matthew said the MyMahir platform (https://www.mymahir.my/home) is also live, serving as a centralised resource, housing the findings of the impact study and a skills taxonomy to guide workforce planning.
“MyMahir is also not only for professionals but also for the young.
“It provides tools to explore career paths and equip our younger generation for tomorrow’s economy,” he added.
He said the younger generations are one of Malaysia’s greatest assets, noting the 11% youth unemployment rate, while 36.3% of the tertiary-educated population were underemployed.
“This reminds us that we must continue investing in targeted upskilling and reskilling to prepare our workforce for future demand,” he added.
Also present at the event were Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, and TalentCorp chairman Wong Shu Qi.
