KUALA LUMPUR - The number of Malaysians working in the gig economy reached an all-time high of three million in 2023, sparking concerns that there will be a shortage of skilled workers in the long term if the trend continues.
The record numbers, representing more than 17 per cent of the country's workforce, are a marked 25 per cent rise from the 2.4 million self-employed workers recorded in 2021, according to Maybank Investment Bank Research.
The increase is worrying as it comes during a period of low unemployment, when Malaysians should be able to find secure jobs with benefits.
Even more worrying, figures from the Department of Statistics showed that close to 98 per cent of delivery riders in 2022 were aged 30 and below, with about 40 per cent of them secondary school leavers.
In 2021, more than 60 per cent of informal workers in the non-agriculture sector were those with secondary school qualifications.
Socio-Economic Research Centre executive director Lee Heng Guie said industries may struggle to find skilled workers in the long run if young people forgo higher education to work in informal, unregistered businesses that do not cough up money to train workers.
"The country needs to have more skilled workers if it wants to move forward in high-tech industries such as artificial intelligence," he told The Straits Times.
"Unregistered businesses that bring in less investments coupled with the growing number of lowskilled workers in the country will eventually weaken the country's economic growth." According to Maybank Investment Bank Research, self-employed workers are essentially daily income workers such as freelancers, hawkers, petty traders, food stall operators and sole proprietors.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 29, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 29, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Meet Blackpink's Lisa at Marquee party on Nov 9
Get ready to meet Thai singer Lisa of K-pop girl group Blackpink ahead of her first solo fan meeting in Singapore at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Nov 11.
Actors Channing Tatum, Zoe Kravitz split up after three years
American actor Channing Tatum and American actress Zoe Kravitz have gone their separate ways, according to various reports by the US media.
Teri Garr brightened up comedies Tootsie, Young Frankenstein
LOS ANGELES - Academy Award-nominated American actress Teri Garr (right), whose sunny personality lit up the screen in films such as Young Frankenstein (1974) and Tootsie (1982), died on Oct 29 at age 79.
Hello Kitty still raking in millions at age 50
TOKYO - Hello Kitty, the cute, enigmatic character that adorns everything from handbags to rice cookers, turns 50 on Nov 1 - and is still making millions for her Japanese creators.
Actress Diana Danielle divorces actor Farid Kamil again
KUALA LUMPUR – A year after reconciling with her husband, Malaysian actor Farid Kamil, Malaysian singer-actress Diana Danielle is filing for divorce again.
Printed jeans take fashion world by storm
UNITED STATES - Swedish fashion house Acne Studios makes US$800 (S$1,060) jeans that look like something a roofer would wear to a rave.
Taking a shine to lab-grown diamonds
Demand for more affordable synthetic alternatives is on the rise as mined diamonds lose their lustre
Artist and model Ella Emhoff under the political spotlight
The stepchild of United States, Vice-President Kamala Harris has been getting more scrutiny after 2021's Inauguration Day
DOUGLASS' HALLOWEEN TREAT
She breaks pact over 'trick' headbands, then breaks 200m breast world mark
Van Nistelrooy vows to help United in any role
LONDON - Manchester United caretaker manager Ruud van Nistelrooy said he will help the club \"in any capacity\" as reports suggest that Ruben Amorim is getting closer to being named as Erik ten Hag's successor.