AROUND three million Malaysians worked in the gig economy last year, making up over 17 per cent of the national workforce.
This reflects significant changes in employment patterns, societal values, technological capabilities and economic structures.
To prepare the workforce for the gig job environment, Qwork and TalentCorp are collaborating to provide insights and data that will drive innovation and sustainable talent practices across industries.
Qwork chief executive officer Muna Wan Nordin said the collaboration with TalentCorp would advance Malaysia's gig economy as part of the National Human Resource Development agenda.
She said combining Qwork's advanced talent matching algorithms with TalentCorp's MyNext platform would enhance the ability to place trainees in the workforce.
"This initiative benefits future employees and employers, creating a more sustainable workplace environment.
"This partnership will provide data and insights for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to make informed decisions and adopt sustainable talent practices.
"We are confident that our innovative platform, alongside TalentCorp's efforts, will transform and boost the gig economy. Qwork and TalentCorp are paving the way for a brighter and more prosperous future," she said.
Muna said adopting flexible work models was a key strategy for enhancing talent attraction, retention and cost-effectiveness among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigating the business landscape.
She added that one of the primary benefits of flexible work models was cost-effectiveness.
"Running a business has become increasingly expensive post-Covid 19 pandemic, with costs rising by about 10 per cent. Flexible work models help SMEs save on operational expenses by allowing them to adjust their manpower according to business needs."
Muna said SMEs often faced challenges attracting skilled workers due to competition with corporations.
Offering flexible work options makes MSMEs more appealing to potential employees, including interns and fresh graduates.
"Flexibility enables SMEs to scale their workforce up or down based on their business needs, making it easier to attract and retain talent.
"This approach also helps reduce the learning curve, as employees can gain experience in different settings, sharing the cost and burden of training with other companies," she said.
Meanwhile, TalentCorp group chief executive officer Thomas Mathew said the partnership aimed to provide insights and data generated by Qwork's artificial intelligence-powered platform.
"This collaboration aims to foster innovation and cooperation, driving sustainable talent practices across industries.
"The platform will be used by TalentCorp to publish comprehensive research papers on the growing gig economy, flexible work segment and their fiscal benefits to MSMEs.
"MSMEs can now leverage the skills and expertise of professionals worldwide, boosting their competitiveness and agility," he said.