One in Three Malaysians Not Using AI at Work

Research from Randstad reveals an exposure gap in AI skill development throughout the country.

By Maggie Mancini

A recent study from Randstad finds that one in three (34%) Malaysian employees has never used artificial intelligence (AI) at work, with an additional 10% of employees saying they have only ever tried to use AI tools once. The research reveals a significant exposure gap in AI skill development.  

At the same time, more than one in five workers currently use AI frequently in their roles, particularly Gen Z (36%) and millennial (24%) employees. Notably, there are significant generational disparities regarding AI adoption, with 42% of Gen X employees and 73% of baby boomers reporting that they have never used AI tools.  

Still, most (81%) respondents understand the impact that AI will have on their jobs. When it comes to Gen X employees, 71% believe that the technology will have an impact on their career. This expands to 73% of millennials and 74% of Gen Z employees, the report finds.  

Despite a clear exposure gap, 45% of Malaysian employees believe AI will increase their job satisfaction. Those who are already using AI—and those who are highly educated—are more optimistic about the impact of AI.  

The survey finds that one in 10 respondents have not received opportunities for career development and upskilling. In a competitive job market, workers who do not receive opportunities for upskilling are twice as likely to leave their organisations (63%) as those who do (31%).