Malaysian employers recruiting more tech-related jobs as organisations move toward digital acceleration
07 Feb 2022
Malaysian employers are recruiting more applicants for tech roles in artificial intelligence (AI), e-commerce, and digital transformation as organisations move toward digital acceleration.
With a knowledge economy that runs on data and technology, data analytics and digital savviness will be critical skillsets for professionals across all sectors and functions in human resource (HR), finance, sales and marketing.
At the same time, employers will highly seek experience in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability initiatives.
Robert Walters Sdn Bhd country manager Ai Rene Tan said in the Klang Valley, particularly in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, in-depth understanding of technology tools and digital transformation will be in the highest need because most local and regional positions are based.
While in the northern region, employers will highly seek engineering and manufacturing roles across all levels after, given that many new players are emerging, she said.
“Those who demonstrate the ability to analyse and have an in-depth understanding of digital transformation or have the right skill sets, coupled with the soft skills that the organisation is looking for, will be in higher demand.
“Organisations look for people who show long term potential and can help drive their businesses forward,” Ai told The New Straits Times.
However, she said there is still a gap in the skill sets of Malaysian employees that companies require at this time.
“They are still being grown in the roles, but not many are already skilled in digital or technology just yet,” she said.
According to a recent survey conducted by Robert Walters, about 94 per cent of Malaysians responded that they are willing to learn and retain new skills to stay relevant.
There is still a talent shortage, given the increase of demand from organisations as they accelerate their transformation efforts.
Therefore, talents with these niche skill sets can also demand more compensation, Ai said.
Aside from the technical skill sets, business leaders and hiring managers are also looking for candidates with strong, soft skills such as agility, adaptiveness, and a growth mindset.
As organisations continuously adjust to the ever-changing economic landscape, candidates should adapt to different kinds of circumstances and continue to be resilient.
“Having a growth mindset is also crucial as it shows someone who is solution-oriented and has leadership abilities
which hiring manager value as well.
“Organisations are also looking at how the candidate will fit into the organisation’s culture and work well with the team.
“They are also assessing if candidates can take on a higher role in two or three years as they are also more looking for longevity of their hire,” Ai said.
In terms of HR policies, Ai said proper guidelines must be in place to make sure that the hybrid work setup is effective for the business.
“Looking into giving hybrid allowances to help employees ease into a proper work from home setup is also what some companies have done to keep their productivity high and have a sense of the same setup when they are at the office.
“These policies will not change much in 2022 as again it will mainly depend on its effectivity per organisation,” she said.
Ai said it is also important to put a bit more emphasis on the mental health and social wellbeing of the employees.
“Apart from organising events or webinars, it is also best to engage with them on a more personal level.
“Hear people out and have one-on-one conversations with them to understand better their needs,” she said.
Source: NST
