Randstad’s latest report finds that one in three workers would consider quitting their job if they were not offered opportunities for career progression.
By Maggie Mancini
Malaysia’s labour marketplace has evolved from being a transactional one to focussing on an employer’s ability to meet employees’ motivations and aspirations. According to Randstad’s latest Workmonitor report, one in two Malaysians say they would quit their job if they were not offered enough career progression opportunities. At the same time, 55% indicate they would remain in their current role if they are happy with it, even if there are no opportunities for development.
By adopting a “talent-first” approach, employers can address employee goals and help their business succeed in the competitive world of work. To do this, employers need to prioritise effective communication to understand where employees stand on issues like flexibility, career advancement, and training opportunities.
In Malaysia, 73% of employees consider themselves ambitious, which is 17% above the global average. Still, 12% of workers don’t want to take on a managerial role. Research indicates that not wanting to progress in their careers does not mean that employees are uninterested in self-improvement, with 81% of respondents ranking professional development opportunities as important when thinking about current and future employers.
The five most important factors when considering employers include the following:
- work-life balance and salary (94%);
- health insurance and healthcare benefits (90%);
- flexibility in working hours (89%);
- job security (88%); and
- mental health support.
As artificial intelligence (AI) disrupts workplaces across the globe, the need to develop skills has influenced talent acquisition in Malaysia. Nearly half (47%) of respondents say that they would not accept a job if it did not offer learning and development opportunities to future-proof their skills.
Among Gen Z, 43% would consider quitting a job that does not offer upskilling opportunities, while only 15% of baby boomers would consider that. More than half (53%) of Malaysian respondents say it is the employer’s responsibility to train and upskill.
Respondents are most interested in developing themselves in the following areas: IT and tech literacy (42%); management and leadership skills (29%); AI (29%); data science and analytics (23%); and communication skills (22%).
