Malaysia has been moving rapidly towards becoming a more sophisticated and technology-reliant era for the past two years, especially in the wake of the pandemic which encouraged businesses to make necessary digital pivots.
It’s no surprise that Covid-19 has impacted the Malaysian job market significantly by increasing the demand for digital-related professions.
According to TalentCorp’s Critical Occupations List 2020/2022, 86% of the occupations listed there for the first time are predominantly digital professions – as in, jobs related to the digital, web, and cybersecurity industry.
As digital professions continue to be in demand, digital-based hybrid roles are expected to increase too. Companies and potential employees alike should look into upskilling and reskilling programs as businesses continue to be reliant on digital technologies.
Digital professions now in demand, talents recommended to upskill
6 out of 7 of the new occupations listed are related to the digital industry such as:
- Animation & Visual Effects Professionals
These professionals develop a variety of digital content. Suitable for graduates who studied audio visual and media production, the median salary of an animator or a visual effects professional is RM3,600 according to the Institute of Labour Market Information and Analysis. - Digital Games and eSports Professionals
They are essential in creating and testing game content. Requires a degree in game design or computer science, professionals here earn a median income of RM4,500/month. - Creative Content Designer Professionals
These professionals create user-centred designs for all types of media. Suitable for talents who pursued studies in audio visual, media production, marketing and advertising. Professionals earn a median salary of RM3,400/month. - Web & Multimedia Developers
These professionals combine design and technical knowledge to create or modify websites and applications. Requires a degree in web development or multimedia, professionals earn a median monthly income of RM5,500. - Data Professionals
Data professionals consolidate large amounts of complex data into meaningful information. This profession requires a degree in mathematics, statistics, or computer science. Data professionals receive a median salary of RM4,550/month. - Cybersecurity Professionals
Cybersecurity professionals address cybersecurity risks within an organization and investigate crimes related to information technology. Requires studies in computer science and applied sciences. Professionals earn a median salary of RM6,500/month.
Talentcorp recommends that young talents continue upskilling and learning techniques related to digital professions to keep up with the country’s labour demands. Among the programmes that talents can use to help themselves upskill are:
This initiative aims to prepare young adults across South East Asia for the 21st-century workplace by providing digital skills training for the most high-demand jobs in Data Analysis, Data Science, Development Operations, Software Development, and IT Support. Upon completion, participants will receive digital credentials and a chance to join soft skills training and receive job placements in related fields.
This initiative supports companies to hire digital talent through salary and training incentives. MYWiT consists of the following programmes: Digital Business Services (DBS) and Digital Tech Apprenticeship (DTA).
The DBS programme has been customised to increase the digital literacy and skills amongst Malaysians as an attempt to curb the rising unemployment level. This is done through partnerships with companies in the fast-growing DBS sector Meanwhile, DTA offers opportunities to upskill and reskill unemployed talents to equip them with the skills required to thrive in most in-demand tech jobs, in areas such as data science, software development and cybersecurity.
e-LATiH is Malaysia’s premier learning aggregator platform which offers unlimited access to free online courses that meet the demands of various industries. Among the digital topics of these courses are digital marketing, web development, and coding.
What is the Critical Occupations List (COL)?
Updated annually, the COL is a frame of reference for Malaysia’s in-demand skills and occupations.
The COL is developed by TalentCorp, an agency under the Human Resources Ministry. The list is created in collaboration with the Institute of Labour Market Information and Analysis (ILMIA) and based on critical input via consultations from the World Bank.
Meanwhile, the COL also assists in policy coordination and enhances human capital planning by both the government and businesses. Government agencies like JPA use the COL for scholarship distribution, while MOTAC uses it to attract and build foreign talents. The COL is expected to be enhanced under the 12th Malaysia Plan to help develop the Malaysia National Skills Registry.
Students may use the COL to choose a career path based on highly sought-after professions to ensure job placements. The 2020/2021 COL lists 42 occupations in various sectors, most notably in the digital, nursing, and technical industries.
More Highlights of 2020/2021 Critical Occupations List
- More nurses are needed in Malaysia
Nursing professionals appeared for the first time in COL. ICU specialist nurses, post-basic trained nurses, and operating theatre nurses are currently the most in-demand.
- In-demand Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) jobs
Technical and Vocational Education and Training skills are also very much needed in Malaysia. More TVET institutions like APU, Monash, and UTAR are being empowered by the Ministry of Human Resources here to produce an increased number of qualified talents to meet the country’s labour demands.
Among professions that are in demand now are Mechanical Engineering Technicians, Welders and Flame Cutters, and Manufacturing Supervisors.
Find out more about COL
To view the full list or find out more information about the Critical Occupations List, log on to https://www.talentcorp.com.my/col.
