Kuala lumpur: A total of 42,807 workers nationwide were reported to have lost their jobs from January to June 12 this year, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan. He stated that business closures and company downsizing were the primary reasons behind these job losses, affecting 17,485 individuals or 40.85 percent, based on statistics from the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest number of job losses at 30 percent or 12,844 people, with Selangor following closely at 12,360 individuals. Johor experienced a job loss rate of 8.1 percent, impacting 3,468 individuals. These figures were disclosed by Ramanan during the Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat today, in response to queries from Datuk Azman Nasrudin (PN-Padang Serai) on the influence of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) in company closures and downsizing in the Klang Valley.
Ramanan emphasized that AI is not currently a threat to employment. Instead, he highlighted the importance of equipping the workforce with AI-related skills to prevent them from being left behind as technology progresses. He responded to a supplementary question from Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu), clarifying that AI is not the primary cause of job losses, which are mainly driven by business closures, voluntary separation schemes, and workforce downsizing.
He further mentioned that the job market in the country still exhibits a high demand for labor, with 605,168 job vacancies advertised through the MYFutureJobs portal since January, compared to 188,062 job seekers, including those who have lost their jobs. Moreover, a TalentCorp study revealed that approximately 697,000 jobs could be at risk due to technological advancements and the green economy in the next three to five years if workers do not upskill themselves.
To address this, the Human Resources Ministry is rolling out various upskilling and reskilling programs, such as the Scheme for Training and Upskilling for Employability (SLaPB) and the Academy in Industry (ADI) program. Additionally, they are offering resources like the MyMAHIR.my platform and the MyMahir SkillsLab program, which include AI modules to aid the workforce in adapting to future demands.