TLDR: Human Resources Minister Steven Sim states that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will redefine jobs rather than replace them, creating new opportunities while also posing risks like scams. A Ministry study indicates up to 600,000 jobs in Malaysia could be affected by AI in the next 3-5 years, but hundreds of thousands of new jobs will also be created. The government is proactively incorporating AI into public employment services to manage this transition.
KUALA LUMPUR – Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to significantly reshape Malaysia’s employment landscape, offering both substantial opportunities for economic growth and innovation, alongside considerable risks if not managed responsibly, according to Human Resources Minister Steven Sim. Speaking at the Workshop on Empowering Job Seekers: Digital Platform Best Practices from OIC Member Countries, Sim emphasized that AI is an ethics-neutral tool with the capacity to enhance productivity for legitimate work, but also to facilitate criminal activities, such as scams.
Sim shared a recent personal experience where he encountered a sophisticated AI-generated comment on his Facebook post, which, despite appearing genuine, led to a scam site. He highlighted this as an example of how AI is being misused to manipulate individuals in increasingly convincing ways, underscoring the real risks AI presents to the job market.
A study conducted by the Human Resources Ministry, released late last year, projects that up to 600,000 jobs in Malaysia could be impacted by AI over the next three to five years. However, the same report also optimistically indicates that hundreds of thousands of new jobs will be created as a direct result of the AI revolution, with some of these roles already being advertised.
In response to these evolving dynamics, Sim stressed the critical need to integrate AI and other digital tools into public employment services. This integration aims not only to improve service delivery but also to build public awareness regarding the associated risks. Malaysia is taking a proactive stance, with the government recently agreeing to amend legislation to bolster the role of PERKESO (Social Security Organisation) as a primary provider of public employment services.
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A cornerstone of this national effort is the MyFutureJobs portal, launched in 2020. This platform leverages AI to facilitate efficient job matching and provides personalized recruitment services for both employers and job seekers. Annually, the portal lists between 1.5 million and 2 million job vacancies, registers approximately 500,000 job seekers, and boasts a placement rate of 60% to 70%. This initiative reflects Malaysia’s commitment to navigating the AI-driven transformation of its workforce, ensuring that the benefits of technological advancement are harnessed while mitigating potential disruptions and threats.
