Upskilling workers is key in the new digitalisation-driven workforce.
By The Editors
Many organisations underwent a digital transformation to keep pace with the changes of 2020, causing a need for new knowledge and tools. In fact, Randstad Malaysia’s Workmonitor report finds that 61% of respondents said that it has been a struggle to acquire new skills in their current role to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is even more prevalent among younger workers aged 18 to 24 years old, with 69% facing difficulties obtaining new skills in this climate.
In a remote environment, the opportunity to learn stakeholder management and leadership skills, new systems, and resource planning is challenging yet critical to the career development of younger workers.
Other key findings from the report include:
- Even for the same job titles, job and skills requirements have changed significantly pre- and post-pandemic.
- To enhance their own employability in an increasingly competitive labour market, 91% of respondents regularly refresh their skills and competencies.
- 70% of respondents believe that employers will have trouble finding the right talent in the future.
- 55% of respondents want to work in an open environment where they can safely share and receive constructive feedback.
- 41% of respondents are attracted to employers that provide employee training programmes.
A lack of skills can drive down the overall talent pool for organisations. The future of work is going to require new knowledge and ideas, and workers need to take a proactive approach to upskill themselves. On the flip side, now is the time for employers to prioritise learning and training programmes in order to attract candidates, develop top talent, and drive employee retention.
