Malaysian businesses face difficulty in sourcing skilled workers, says survey

KUALA LUMPUR: The Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) has revealed that 62 per cent of businesses in Malaysia are finding it hard to source skilled workers.

This is ahead of Singapore at 61 per cent and well above the global average of 39 per cent.

The survey also revealed that in the Asean region, the shortage of specific or technical skills is the most significant factor for businesses in Vietnam at 86 per cent, followed by Philippines (76 per cent) and thirdly in Malaysia at 68 per cent.

In a statement, Grant Thornton said IBR highlighted other factors that hinder recruitment in Malaysia, such as the lack of appropriate work experience (63 per cent) and also shortage of general employability skills, particularly teamwork, communication in English (62 per cent).

It said Malaysian businesses are also faced with an increased operating cost (52 per cent), increased workload for remaining staff (47 per cent) and also fall in customer service standards (38 per cent).

SJ Grant Thornton Managing Partner Datuk NK Jasani, said a business is nothing without its people, just as a strategy is nothing without the people to drive it forward.

He said the shortage of skilled workers reported by business leaders should therefore provoke real concern, especially at a time when unemployment is running high in many mature markets.

“That the key concern amongst business leaders is a lack of technical skills is both cause for optimism and pessimism.

“There could be improving dialogue between education institutions and business leaders to embed the necessary skills in students,” he added.