KUALA LUMPUR - The Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) will work with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to strengthen the development of Malaysia’s future workforce, following recommendations in the World Bank’s latest report on productivity and talent development.

Human Resources Minister, Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the collaboration would expose students at an early stage to career pathways in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and other high-skilled sectors.

He said the initiative aims to help students make better decisions on their education and career pathways before entering the workforce.

“KESUMA will continue to expand cross-ministerial collaboration, together with its agencies and strategic industry partners, to ensure that skills development, training and talent interventions are implemented in a more focused, responsive and results-oriented manner.

“This includes efforts to improve job matching through MyFutureJobs, strengthen the marketability of local talent and assist more Malaysians in accessing high-value and better-paid jobs,” he said on May 14.

Ramanan said KESUMA had taken note of the findings in the World Bank’s Malaysia Economic Monitor April 2026 report titled Raising the Ceiling, Raising the Floor: The Jobs Agenda as a Productivity Agenda, which was launched on May 14.

He said the report stressed that Malaysia’s employment agenda must focus on productivity, talent development and quality job creation to support the country’s progress towards becoming a high-income nation.

“The report underlines that Malaysia's main challenge today is no longer just creating jobs, but ensuring that the jobs created are well-matched with skills, productivity and are capable of raising people's incomes.

“The report also highlights that investments in AI, digitalisation and high-value sectors must be supported by a skills ecosystem that is more responsive to industry demand, including TVET, lifelong learning and the strategic use of labour market information,” he added.

Ramanan said the report’s findings are in line with KESUMA’s efforts to improve job quality through stronger skills development, productivity and labour market matching.

He said the report also recognised the importance of talent development, AI readiness and accurate labour market information in building a competitive workforce that can adapt to economic and technological changes.

“In line with the 13th Malaysia Plan, KESUMA, through TalentCorp, continues to strengthen the MyMahir ecosystem, including the Future Skills Talent Council (FSTC), the use of Critical Occupations List (MyCOL) data, and the implementation of the AI Readiness Index (AIRI), to ensure the country's skills development is more aligned with current and future industry needs,” Ramanan said.

The World Bank report also acknowledged the role of MyMahir, FSTC and MyCOL in helping Malaysia build a more industry-driven and responsive skills ecosystem.

KESUMA said its departments and agencies would continue strengthening labour standards, occupational safety and health, industrial relations, TVET and technical talent development.

“This includes certification, labour market initiatives, job placement, salary improvements, social protection and support for workers affected by technological change and structural economic uncertainty, thereby reducing skills mismatches and empowering Malaysians for high-productivity jobs.

“ line with the spirit of Pekerja MADANI Kesuma Bangsa, KESUMA is committed to ensuring that the country's economic growth and rising productivity translate into better jobs, more meaningful wages and fairer future opportunities for all Malaysians," the statement said.