No Age Limit for Skilling

Increasingly, people are seeking skilling training. The reasons for this can be for to find employment, a career change or even to up-skill within their current work industry.

Malaysia currently does have a skill shortage and this is a great concern for employers as they seek to attract skilled individuals to give them the competitive advantage required in the local and global economy. The main industries where there are skills shortage is in financial services, information technology, and manufacturing.

There is no age limit for skilling, and employers in Malaysia are consistently seeking ways to up-skill existing employees through sponsorship. They don’t hesitate to employ foreign nationals with the necessary skills required.

However, tightened labour laws, and the brain drain will require that country addresses one of its main economic weaknesses, 'skills shortages'.

The problem in Malaysia can be solved by skilling employees already in the place of employment. Since people in Malaysia tend to retire from at an earlier age, they could be kept within the workforce, contributing to the economy. It is a myth that older employees are not willing to learn, are not adaptable or flexible.

Ongoing training and career progression should be encouraged for workers of all age groups. Employee skilling reduces the need for constant staff recruitment, which in turn increases productivity and decreases hiring costs.

Skilling programs, within the existing workplace, also ensure that all employees have the same level of skills and knowledge. This reduces weak links and team work is greatly improved. This consistency allows for increased efficiency, greater productivity and higher quality standards. New ideas are born out of skilling with an increased chance of discovering talented individuals.

Skilling within the workforce can be best achieved with on-the job learning, in-house training, and individual courses, while government programs are also helpful. There are also programs for older people who have never been employed.

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