PETALING JAYA: The demand for technology has in turn created an urgent and unprecedented demand for tech talent, and there is a rising requirement for digital skills in every function across an organisation, such as (and not limited to) accounting & finance, human resources, sales & marketing, research & development (R&D) as well as risk & compliance, according to Randstad Malaysia.
The global recruitment agency expects technology-empowered industries such as e-commerce, fintech, logistics & supply chain, manufacturing, R&D, as well as medtech & biotech, will continue to see solid growth in 2021.
In the 2021 edition of its Market Outlook & Salary Snapshot, it said the focus on technology advancements and talent development has created more job opportunities for the local workforce.
Randstad Malaysia and Singapore managing director Jaya Dass said organisational technology readiness was a critical focus in 2020, and it will continue to be for the years to come.
âCompaniesâ increasing focus on digital transformation will drive talent demand and shape the local workforce in 2021. There will be demand for highly specialised talent, particularly in areas such as Internet of Things (IoT), software development, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, robotics, project migration and change management.â
She added that Covid-19 will continue to impact business and consumer confidence, and Malaysiaâs growth will depend on both the recovery of global powerhouses and domestic market performance.
âWith change and innovation as a constant, companies must stay agile and find new pockets of growth in 2021. As a global talent recruitment agency with a strong local market focus, it is important for us to start putting people to work so that we can achieve recovery and growth together.â
In the technology industry, Randstad Malaysia predicts four potential areas of technology growth in 2021 â cybersecurity, Software-as-a-Service conferencing solutions, e-commerce, and IoT.
Aligned with its projections on market growth, it said experienced talent in cybersecurity, app development, DevOps and digital marketing would be highly sought-after in 2021.
In the manufacturing industry, it anticipates hiring activities will remain stable in 2021, as the sector is expected to be resilient despite the pandemic. In the future, most jobs in manufacturing will likely have a digital element, so it is important for candidates to be equipped with strong digital skills so that they can do their work more effectively and efficiently.
In the construction industry, Randstad Malaysia said, hot jobs are in contract management, tender management, quality assessment and control as well as project management.
Randstad Malaysia pointed out that these roles have a crucial part in ensuring cost efficiency and profitability throughout the project lifecycle. Common technical skills that employers look for include BIM, IBS, Quality Assessment System in Construction and the Construction Quality Assessment System. Other in-demand soft skills would include stakeholder management, time management and vendor negotiation.
