Programme to support MyDIGITAL and National 4IR Policy aspiration to equip local workforce with digital skills and boost the employability of graduates and unemployed Malaysians.

 KUALA LUMPUR, 8 July 2021 – Microsoft Malaysia, the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) and Junior Achievement (JA) Malaysia, have forged a partnership to upskill some 25,000 Malaysians targeting graduates and unemployed individuals, through the ‘Digital Skills for Tomorrow’s Jobs’ Programme.

The programme is in support of the Government’s MyDIGITAL and National Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Policy to build future-ready digital talents including the development of 30,000 data professionals by 2025, well-equipped with in-demand skills required to thrive in an evolving job market.

The joint initiative aims to reach 25,000 Malaysians through online webinars on digital skills and data science, based on Microsoft’s industry and training resources. Priority will be given to graduates and unemployed individuals in Malaysia. From the pool, 400 participants will then be selected to continue with an extensive digital skills course which also includes mentorship and soft skills training to enhance their work readiness. Participants will be able to select from five career tracks, including data analyst, data scientist, development operations, software developer and IT support. These courses are offered in English and Bahasa Malaysia, ensuring accessibility for all Malaysians.

 Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohammed Azman Bin Dato’ Aziz Mohammed, Chief Executive of SOCSO said public-private partnerships are important enablers to develop competent digital talent through upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, in achieving MyDIGITAL’s aspiration, that is part of the National 4IR Policy, to make Malaysia a regional leader in the digital economy. “The reskilling and upskilling of the Malaysian workforce, especially those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, are essential to empower them either to compete in the demanding job market of today as well as embrace and find success in the digital economy. We are excited with this partnership and together, we are committed to addressing the challenges faced by our local talents and help strengthen Malaysia’s digital workforce,” he said.

With digital economy across the globe growing at a rapid pace, the need to build the next generation of skills remains a critical enabler in response to the changing job market. According to LinkedIn’s Job on the Rise 2021 research, Digital Content Freelancers, Data Analyst, and Software & Engineering Roles are among the top 3 fastest-growing jobs in Southeast Asia. Additionally, the demand for workers with tech skills will continue to grow, from specialised engineers and cyber security talent, fuelled by the region’s booming e-commerce and cloud transformation across industries. Similarly, based on MDEC’s research, the number of digital job vacancies in Malaysia has almost tripled from 19,000 vacancies in June 2020 to 59,000 vacancies in April 2021.

K Raman, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia said, “With our Malaysia’s future anchored on a digital-first economy, the digital workforce will be an important driver for the nation’s economic recovery. We recently announced our Bersama Malaysia initiative, which includes a commitment to bring digital skills to 1 million Malaysians by December 2023. Towards this end, we are pleased to have established strong partnerships with SOCSO and JA Malaysia. Together, we look forward to supporting our digital talents to remain competitive and succeed in Malaysia’s digital-first economy.”

Efforts will be made to ensure successful candidates will be offered employment, internship or practical training opportunities. To achieve this, Microsoft will be working together with SOCSO and JA Malaysia to engage Microsoft’s partner ecosystem and customers to be part of the programme.

Datuk Timothy Garland, Junior Achievement Malaysia Trustee said businesses and organisations all around the globe have transformed, adopting new technologies to continue operating under unprecedented circumstances brought forth by COVID-19. “Alongside the rise in demand for technology, comes a rise in demand for digital skills – presenting incredible opportunities for people to find a career that they can be passionate about. Alongside Microsoft and SOCSO together with CloudSwyft as our Learning Management System partner, we aim to bring digital skills to Malaysians and arm them for the jobs of the future.”

To mark the partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently inked by Microsoft, SOSCO and JA Malaysia. K. Raman, Dato’ Sri Dr Mohammed Azman and Datuk Timothy Garland signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations at a ceremony held online.

Registration for the ‘Digital Skills for Tomorrow’s Jobs’ Programme

Participants are welcome to register for the ‘Digital Skills for Tomorrow’s Jobs’ starting 8^th July 2021 via www.myfuturejobs.gov.my/upskilling-reskilling. For enquiries, contact Whatsapp: 013-533 2468, Hotline: 1300 22 8000 or email digitalskills@jamalaysia.org.