- 1 in 5 Malaysians use AI daily or frequently at work, particularly Gen Zers (36%) and Millennials (24%).
- 42% of Gen Xers and 73% of Baby Boomers have never used AI in their work.
- Attractive salaries & benefits are a top priority for Malaysians, 35% said that their employers did not provide any financial support in the face of rising costs and inflation.
1 in 3 Malaysians have never used AI at work, while another 10% of respondents have only used AI tools once, showing a significant exposure gap in AI skill development in Malaysia.
The annual employer brand research guides employers with year-on-year analysis, as well as talent attitudes and perceptions on important topics like skill development and equity. AI technology will continue to change skill needs and workforce structures, and investing in talent development will help organisations hire skilled talent and attract more people to work in Malaysia.
81% of malaysians feel the impact of AI on their jobs
More than one in five workers currently use AI every day or frequently at work, particularly Gen Zers (36%) and Millennials (24%). However, 34% of respondents said they have never used AI tools at work.
Notably, there are significant generational disparities regarding AI exposure. At work, 42% of Gen Xers have never used AI, and this increases to 73% for Baby Boomers.
In Malaysia, 81% of respondents understand the impact AI will have on their jobs. Despite nearly half of Gen Xers not having any exposure to AI at work, 71% believe that the technology will impact their careers. This is similar to Gen Xers (74%) and Millennials (73%), who are already more familiar with AI.
Encouragingly, workforce attitudes on AI’s impact at work skew positive, with 45% of respondents stating that it will increase their job satisfaction. Notably, those already using AI and the higher-educated are more optimistic that AI will boost their job satisfaction.
how has AI impacted your job?
The emergence of AI has been exciting, but it’s normal for employees to wonder how it will impact their careers. Early exposure to new technologies can boost their career outlook while nurturing skills development in the organisation. With AI integration, employers should step up to support their employees’ skills growth due to the rapid and extensive progress in AI.
The survey revealed that one in 10 respondents did not receive enough opportunities to develop in their role. In a competitive job market, workers who do not receive opportunities for upskilling and career advancements are twice as likely to leave the organisations (63%) than those who do (31%).
salary & benefits top of mind for malaysian job seekers
“Attractive salary and benefits” stand out as the top priority for respondents when looking for an ideal employer to work for in Malaysia, followed by a “good work-life balance”.
“Strong Management” has also regained its importance, as it returns to being the third most important employer value proposition after sliding to fifth position in 2023.
The cost of living has increased significantly over the past two years, which has resulted in many Malaysians seeking higher-paying jobs. This is not surprising given that living expenses have caught up with salaries.
Employees who are stressed about their personal finances are also more likely to lose focus at work. At the same time, some in-demand talent are hesitant to switch jobs due to the global economic climate.
It is hence critical for organisations looking to recruit talent to understand not just how much candidates expect, but also new market salary averages offered by their competitors.
When asked if their employers had provided them with financial assistance to manage the rising cost of living, 35% said no. Another 34% reported that their pay raise helped to cover some of the costs and only 10% received one-time financial support from their employers.
how have your employers helped you financially deal with the unusual increase in living costs over the past 2 years?
get your free digital report: 2024 employer brand research report
In its 9th year, the Employer Brand Research is an independent survey commissioned by Randstad and features the voices of at least 2,500 respondents in Malaysia. The report provides employers with year-on-year trend analysis of the top employee value proposition factors from a list of 10, as well as insights into talent perceptions on important human resources topics like equity at work and impact of AI on talent.
connect with us for more in-depth talent insights
At Randstad, we conduct market research around the world and in Malaysia to uncover talent insights and trends to support employers in developing and executive talent attraction strategies to find top talent.
Connect with our talent consultants for in-depth talent trends in Malaysia and find out more about our specialised talent recruitment and workforce planning solutions.