by AUFA MARDHIAH / pic source ranstad.com.my

RANDSTAD Workmonitor survey revealed that 97% of employees were interested in learning and development opportunities, but only 36% were offered training from their employers in the past 12 months.

Meanwhile, more than four in five respondents opined that training and development are an integral part of their career progress — crucial to higher job satisfaction.

Randstad Malaysia country director Fahad Naeem (picture) said that employees in Malaysia are aware of the importance of having regular upskilling training programmes as part of their career development journey.

“These programmes are critical in empowering them to work more effectively and think critically so that they can have more job promotion opportunities within the organisation. 

“Despite the enthusiasm, there is still hesitation to upskill because of the overwhelming workload and lack of mental capacity to attend training courses.

“It’s critical to note that workforce upskilling is a combined effort of both the employer and employee. Companies that want to have a high-productivity workforce and be better at attracting and retaining talent will need to offer upskilling opportunities to help their employees grow into value-add roles,” he said in a statement.

On what employees would want to receive training for, 61% want technical skills, 60% crave to develop soft skills and 54% desire to develop the current role they’re in.

“In the era of digital transformation, companies need to invest in developing a future-ready and agile workforce to gain a competitive advantage.

“When employees have the opportunity to learn and apply new frameworks and methodologies into practice at work, they will become more efficient at their jobs and communicate with one another more effectively,” Naeem added further.

On the other hand, the survey also indicated that 96% of respondents are keen on reaching out to career coaches for helpful advice and guidance.

On what employees would like to receive coaching for, 65% are interested in finding a better balance between work and personal life, 64% hope to earn a higher income and 43% want to advance their careers with the current employers.

On the matter, Naeem said career coaching can be very meaningful to employees who are looking for answers to their unique challenges.

“It provides them with an opportunity to seek guidance on how they should deal with an overwhelming workload or a difficult work situation with a colleague.

“Coaches can also guide employees to take steps to improve their work-life balance or to attain the next step in their careers. 

“By offering career coaching to your employees, you are creating a more holistic work environment for them to grow and develop in, which would help you attract more talent who are seeking the same type of support for their growth,” he added.

The survey highlights the workforce’s latest sentiments and perceptions of the local job market. It was conducted from Feb 21 to March 13, 2022, involving 750 locally based employees, aged between 18 to 67 years old.