KUALA LUMPUR: A competitive starting salary for engineers could set the trajectory for engineers' career advancement and earning capabilities in Malaysia.
The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) president Professor Dr Norlida Buniyamin in a statement today said efforts have to be made by all stakeholders to enhance all incorporated companies' capacity to afford engineers' skill sets, aligning with market demands.
She added that among other things, such measures could mitigate the brain drain from local engineers.
"IEM regularly conducts market surveys among our 50,000 members to furnish essential data as reference for formulating starting salaries for new engineers, which is a critical aspect in predicting their future earning potential.
"Starting with a competitive salary can set the trajectory for engineers' career advancement and earning capabilities," she said.
Norlida was commenting on a media report about the need to increase the size of the local engineering workforce, including offering more attractive salaries following the brain drain of local engineers for better salaries.
At the same time, she also mentioned that the value local engineers bring should also match companies' skill requirements, involving factors such as experience, industry specifics, project involvement, niche skills and overall contribution to organisational goals.
She added that it was important to elevate Malaysia as a technology developer, as the country will not only enhance engineers' market relevance, but also enable local and multinational companies to offer competitive compensation on the global stage.
"Brain drain is not solely an engineering profession's concern; it affects various professions.
"Addressing this issue requires collective efforts from all sectors of society, emphasising the importance of national unity in finding solutions," she said.