BEING A TECHNOLOGY and innovation hub, it may not be altogether a big surprise that Penang is having to deal with an excessive demand for workers with digital skills today; namely in areas such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital marketing. It is the outcome of the solid growth of Penang’s industrialisation.
There are worries that this mismatch on the labour market will slow the growth of the digital industry in Penang and hinder the development of the digital ecosystem in the region. Furthermore, if the problem remains unsolved, extra strain may be put on existing workers, and they may be overworked and asked to multitask.
On the bright side, this situation should encourage workers and graduates to invest in gaining the digital skills that are in such demand at the moment. Facilitating their interest in that direction is therefore of vital importance to the economic future of Penang. In response to that, Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) - the first tripartite, industry-led skills training and education centre in Malaysia - and Forward School (a privately run, new technology and future skills school), have put their heads together to form a training partnership to address the problem.
