More than half of Malaysians (57%) would consider quitting their jobs if their managers are not supportive of their development.
Respondents in Malaysia are also more likely to quit their jobs (55%) if their managers don’t take an interest in their long-term career planning and progression. This is particularly true for younger generations, with 58% of Gen Z and Millennials indicating they would leave, compared to 41% of Baby Boomers.
Fahad Naeem, Country Director at Randstad Malaysia said, “Malaysia’s low unemployment rate highlights the importance of providing equal training opportunities, especially when there’s a shortage of skilled workers. As companies move forward with business and digital transformation, employers need to support their employees’ upskilling to meet today’s and tomorrow’s needs.”
Randstad – the world’s largest talent agency – today released additional data from its 2025 Workmonitor research in Malaysia. The survey findings highlight a significant gap between the expectations of talent and employers regarding training and upskilling, set against a backdrop of volatility and talent scarcity.
| Malaysia | Gen Z | Millennials | Gen X | Baby Boomers | |
| I would quit a job if I felt my manager wasn’t supportive of my development | 57% | 63% | 58% | 53% | 51% |
| I would quit a job if my manager didn’t take interest in my long term career planning and progression | 55% | 58% | 58% | 49% | 41% |
Malaysians are ready to embrace technology, with AI training as a top priority
In Malaysia, 35% of respondents reported that their employers did not introduce any new training programmes in the last 12 months. Employers are more likely to skip new training for older generations, as 41% of Gen X and 58% of Baby Boomers said their employers did not implement any new training programmes in the past 12 months.
Despite the lack of new training, 59% of Malaysians trust their employers to provide training opportunities that help them adapt to changing workplace demands. Gen Z workers trust their employers the most, with 66% expressing confidence, while Gen X (52%) and Baby Boomers (50%) trust their employers the least.
Survey findings reveal that talent is eager to upskill to thrive with new technologies and secure their employment amid an evolving landscape. A significant 88% of respondents feel prepared to use the latest technology at work.
| Malaysia | Gen Z | Millennials | Gen X | Baby Boomers | |
| In the past 12 months, my employer did not implement career development opportunities (e.g. new training programmes) | 35% | 35% | 31% | 41% | 58% |
| I trust my employer to invest and provide training opportunities for me to keep pace with changes in the workplace | 59% | 66% | 59% | 52% | 50% |
| I trust my employer to invest and provide opportunities for continuous learning, particularly in AI and technology | 53% | 59% | 52% | 53% | 42% |
| I feel ready to use the latest technology in my role (i.e. AI) | 88% | 89% | 90% | 86% | 75% |
Naeem said, “Technology is quickly changing how employees work and view their job security and career future. Employers can unlock their workforce’s full potential by ensuring age-inclusive learning strategies that help everyone grow together. Companies that invest in skills development across their organisation can be sure that their employees are more equipped and confident to grow alongside AI, which will result in an engaged and productive workforce.”
If their employers offered it, 41% of respondents in Malaysia are interested in AI training, a 12% increase from 2024. This is followed by IT and technological literacy in productivity tools and excel (39%), and management and leadership skills (32%).
Employers vs. employees: Malaysian workers split on upskilling responsibilities
About one-third of people (31%) think that it is their employers’ responsibility to upskill them in technology and AI. This sentiment is more common among older workers, with 36% of Gen X and 42% of Baby Boomers agreeing. On the other hand, 24% of respondents believe that it is their job to improve these skills, with 27% of Gen Z and Millennials leading this view.
When it comes to developing soft skills, 29% of respondents in Malaysia think employers should provide training, with Gen X and Baby Boomers (33%) feeling this way most strongly. 21% of respondents think they should improve their soft skills on their own, with 24% of Millennials agreeing.
Sharing a perspective on this, Naeem said, “Employers may sometimes get caught up in meeting business expectations, viewing upskilling as a distraction from productivity. However, investing in workforce development is very much a forward-thinking strategy. Providing upskilling guidance and training support to employees today can promise a much more competent workforce that delivers results faster and adapts more agilely to evolving industry trends. In the long run, this investment pays off more than the costs of having a workforce that cannot keep up with new technologies and changing work demands.”
| Malaysia | Gen Z | Millennials | Gen X | Baby Boomers | |
| The responsibility to train and upskill in tech and AI lies with my employer | 31% | 29% | 29% | 36% | 42% |
| The responsibility to train and upskill in soft skills lies with my employer | 29% | 21% | 31% | 33% | 33% |
| My employer did not provide me with opportunities to future proof my skills in the face of industry changes | 11% | 10% | 9% | 13% | 25% |
The Randstad Workmonitor 2025 survey explores the views of working people in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America. Data was collected from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay between 7th October 2024 and 6th November 2024, including 503 respondents in Malaysia.
For this research, Randstad partnered with Evalueserve, a global research and analysis firm.
