THE Malaysian job market this year will see strong demand for highly skilled digital qualifications, but employers said most local jobseekers lacked the necessary skills, said an outlook survey by JobStreet.com.

According to its Malaysia’s Job Outlook 2019 poll, 96% of employers believe the talent landscape will change this year due to the surge in demand for digital skills.

The same employers also noted that there appeared to be a limited supply of potential workers with these skill sets.

“Finding the right skill set is the No. 1 priority. Digital transformation is inevitable. As we become more globalised, companies have to embark on digital transformation journeys,” said Jobstreet.com’s Malaysia manager Gan Bock Herm.

“Secondly, it’s important to find the right talent. Right now, there is a limited number of talents out there, so employers need to be more proactive to source candidates from the passive talent pool.” 

The report recommended that jobseekers equip themselves to meet the digital skills requirement of the changing employment landscape.

“Organisations are not only adopting technologies but also expanding their internal talent pool with skilled talent to drive the business.

“Talents need to ensure they are equipped with the right skills for these jobs,” it said.

The survey polled 20,343 respondents aged 18 to 60, as well as 365 employers, in positions ranging from entry level to directors and above.

It found that 60% of employers had already implemented digital or automation technologies in their organisations.

This has caused an increase in headcount for 43% of companies polled and a reduction in staff for 18%, while 39% of companies said their headcounts remained unchanged.

Gan said it was crucial for organisations to hire skilled talent to support the digital growth that will take place.

“The Job Outlook 2019 survey shows that while 29% of employers surveyed were looking to hire new talent externally for skills the business needs, a large majority of employers cited their willingness to retain and upskill existing employees,” he said at Jobstreet’s HR Networking Event in Petaling Jaya today.

Gan said that Jobstreet.com has been working with public and private universities nationwide to ensure graduates were well aware of the skills needed in the workforce.

He also said Jobstreet has kept universities informed on hiring trends in the market to ensure that courses offered were relevant to current workforce demands. 

The report also listed five digital skills sought by employers – digital marketing, software and application development, e-commerce, big data and analytics, and database.

Problem-solving skills topped the list of soft skills that employers looked for in potential hires. – January 17, 2019.