KUALA LUMPUR: More than 63 per cent of Malaysian employees are optimistic that generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) will improve working flexibility, according to the EY 2023 Work Reimagined Employee survey.
The survey of 250 workers and 50 employers conducted by the global professional services group between May and July also showed that 70 per cent of workers said they are either currently using or planning to use GenAI in the next 12 months.
The survey found that 84 per cent of Malaysian employers are expecting GenAI to enhance work, and 96 per cent are either currently using or planning to use the technology within the next one year.
However, despite both employees and employers ranking learning and skills as the number one factor to ensure employees thrive in new ways of working, only 22 per cent of Malaysia employers (global 22 per cent) plan to provide training on GenAI-related skills, it said in the report.
EY Asean People Advisory Services leader and Ernst & Young Consulting Sdn Bhd partner Low Choy Huat said that despite the vast awareness of the GenAI benefits in Malaysia, there is a substantial gap in upskilling and reskilling the workforce to adopt the technology.
"It is encouraging to witness the increasing awareness among Malaysian employees and employers on the potential benefits of using GenAI in the workplace."While there is an intention among employers to incorporate GenAI in the near future, there is a substantial gap in upskilling and reskilling the workforce in the technology," he said.
It is imperative to accelerate the training of essential skills to build Gen AI capabilities, while fostering the ethical and responsible use of it in the workforce, said Low.
The survey also revealed that 39 per cent of employees in Malaysia, or over a third, are likely to quit their jobs in the next 12 months, with better overall wellbeing programs, greater flexibility for remote work and more competitive salary packages elsewhere, as top reasons for leaving.
Salary remains the main concern of Malaysian employees at 40 per cent, followed by the employer's ability to attract new talent (20 per cent) and workplace flexibility (28 per cent).
Low said that over a third of Malaysian workers are actively considering moving to a workplace that offers enhanced wellbeing initiatives that can meet their post-pandemic aspirations and the rising cost of living even as they recognise there are still economic challenges ahead.
"To safeguard the essential workforce, employers must proactively address the evolving expectations and priorities of their workforce to not only attract and retain top talent but also foster a resilient workforce in the face of ongoing economic challenges," he said.
With regards to work flexibility, the survey found that about half or 52 per cent of Malaysian employers are supportive of their employees adopting a two-to-three-day hybrid arrangement by allowing them to work from home on some days and in the office on other days.
Low said this approach is a positive trend in the post-pandemic landscape.-ends-