COMPANIES nowadays are more inclined to hire candidates with artificial intelligence (AI) skills, even if they have less working experience than candidates who have fewer AI skills.
A comprehensive report titled 'Work Trend Index 2024' — based on a survey of 31,000 individuals across 31 countries — LinkedIn's labour and hiring trends, as well as insights from Microsoft 365 indicates a significant rise in AI usage among employees in Malaysia.
The report highlights a dramatic shift in hiring practices, with 65 per cent of Malaysian leaders preferring candidates with AI skills over more experienced candidates without them.
The trend reflects the growing recognition that AI competency is essential in the modern workplace.
For competitive edge
LinkedIn's head of sales for emerging markets in Southeast Asia, Rohit Kalsy, said in an era of rapid changes in the talent landscape, leaders who focus on agility and invest in skills development to create an AI-ready workforce will gain a competitive edge.
"As Malaysia experiences a significant transformation in the workplace driven by AI, businesses are recognising the necessity for a new talent strategy.
"Sixty-two per cent of business leaders would not hire someone without AI skills, while 65 per cent would rather hire someone less experienced but with AI skills rather than someone without.
"AI mentions in LinkedIn job posts drive a 17 per cent bump in application growth."
Rohit added that there was a staggering 142-fold increase in AI-related skills and projects mentioned in resumes, which reflects the accelerating adoption of AI tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot that have become integral to various professional fields.
Moreover, a notable 84 per cent of Malaysian workers are already using AI to streamline tasks, enhance creativity and improve efficiency compared with the global average of 75 per cent, according to the report.
Reducing work burden
Microsoft Malaysia managing director K. Raman said the amount of work has increased post Covid-19, leading to a higher demand for productivity tools.
"This adoption is crucial in addressing the issue of job burnout, with 77 per cent of employees reporting feeling overwhelmed by their workload.
"AI tools help alleviate this burden by saving time and allowing employees to concentrate on more impactful tasks, thus enhancing job satisfaction and retention.
"Generative AI is not just about automation, it's about augmentation."
However, Raman said despite the enthusiasm for AI, many Malaysian organisations lack a coherent AI strategy.
He said while 88 per cent of leaders acknowledge the necessity of AI for maintaining competitiveness, 66 per cent express concerns over their company's lack of a clear AI vision.
"This gap has prompted employees to take matters into their own hands, with 83 per cent bringing their own AI tools to work in a trend termed 'Bring Your Own AI'"
"This independent approach, however, risks missing out on the strategic benefits of AI and exposes companies to potential data security issues.
"It's essential for employers to provide training that empowers employees to use AI responsibly and effectively, ensuring that the benefits of AI are maximised while mitigating potential risks."
Raman added that a company culture which encourages experimentation and embraces change is essential for successful AI integration.
"Senior leadership must actively endorse and lead AI transformation efforts.
"A change-ready culture that fosters innovation and learning is the backbone of successful AI adoption."