The report on the Impact Study of Artificial Intelligence, Digital, and Green Economy on the Malaysian Workforce, released today, found that 620,000 jobs – or 18% of 3.5 million employees – are expected to be highly impacted in the next three to five years by AI, digitalisation, and the green economy.
The study also found that employers are increasingly seeking talent with specialised skills in AI, digital, and green economy, which are now essential across a wide range of roles, including non-technical positions.
“Technology can replace jobs but it can also create new work opportunities,” said human resources minister Steven Sim at the launch of the report here today.
“This blueprint today is a mapping of future jobs, where lawmakers will get a preview about what is ahead so they will be prepared to reshape industries accordingly.”
Sim said his ministry is working to help pivot these 620,000 highly impacted jobs to other roles within or across sectors with the necessary upskilling and reskilling identified on MyMAHIR, a portal designed to help employees evaluate and enhance their skills.
The study examined how AI, digitalisation, and the green economy are reshaping industries. It also identifies emerging job roles and pinpoints the skills crucial for Malaysia’s future workforce.
The study focused on 10 key sectors – aerospace, chemicals, electrical & electronics, energy & power, food manufacturing & services, global business services, ICT, medical devices, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and wholesale & retail trade.
Collectively, these 10 sectors contributed RM933 billion or 60% to Malaysia’s GDP in 2023.
Among the study’s recommendations are for the government to provide financial support for employees to upskill and reskill, and industries to provide in-house training and development programmes on the latest technology trends.
It also recommended that the education curriculum be refreshed to incorporate AI, digital, and sustainability into the syllabus.
Present at the launch were digital minister Gobind Singh Deo, deputy higher education minister Mustapha Sakmud, human resources ministry secretary-general Azman Yusoff, digital ministry secretary-general Fabian Bigar, TalentCorp chairman Wong Shu Qi and its group CEO, Thomas Mathew.
In his opening address, Mathew said the agency is proactively working to address the issues highlighted in the report.
“TalentCorp is working closely with industry stakeholders to ensure the Malaysian workforce remains adaptable,” he said.
“Through MyMAHIR and our other initiatives, we are addressing immediate and long-term needs by equipping Malaysians with skills critical to our economic and global competitiveness.”