Malaysia expects its digital economy employment to surpass global average by 2025
‘Growth will be spurred by continuous investment and robust development in the digital technology,’ says international trade minister
By Sulhi Azman
Malaysia’s ministry of international trade and industry (Miti) is targeting the country’s employment rate within the digital economy space to surpass the global average by 2025.
Without mentioning specific figures, Miti secretary-general Datuk Seri J Jayasiri said the growth will be spurred by continuous investment and robust development in the digital technology.
“In the era of disruption, the government along with all stakeholders need to work together to design strategies and promote comprehensive efforts to facilitate the transition for our economies, and especially in human capital,” he told reporters after opening the Asia Pacific Services Symposium 2017, on behalf of International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
According to the ministry’s partner, the Asean Service Providers Confederation (ASPC), the employment rate within the digital economy space — particularly in the trading activities of the services and manufacturing sectors in Malaysia, as well as in other Asia-Pacific countries — has underperformed its global peers.
“Pretty much in the Asia-Pacific economic region, the bulk of the new jobs are in the digital economy space. And this has been true since the last two decades,” said ASPC co-convenor Jane Drake-Brockman.
“The digital services are the lifeblood of the new economic frontiers, with tremendous opportunities to be unlocked in the near future,” she added.
