KUALA LUMPUR - Bernama reported, The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has cautioned that ASEAN faces an expanding skills gap if Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems are not urgently reformed to meet the needs of the future workforce.

ACCA Asia Pacific Director, Pulkit Abrol said the region is at a critical point as industries increasingly adopt automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and sustainability standards.

He highlighted three pressing workforce challenges: de-skilling as automation replaces routine tasks, re-skilling as roles evolve every 2.5 to three years, and up-skilling to strengthen expertise in digital, ESG, and emerging technologies.

“What we are trying to do is bring people together across the region so we can have the right conversations about skills, jobs and productivity.

“This requires stronger partnerships and practical, continuous upskilling, especially in areas such as digital literacy, data analytics and ESG reporting to ensure today’s workforce remains competitive and future-ready,” he said during his presentation of The 2026 Blueprint: Transforming TVET into a Catalyst for Economic Growth at the ACCA Public Sector Forum: TVET 2026.

Abrol noted that ACCA’s Global Talent Trends 2025 report shows demand for digital and sustainability-related roles exceeds supply, particularly among Gen Z and millennial workers.

He added that 57% of Gen Z and 53% of Gen Y aspire to become entrepreneurs, and that accountancy continues to serve as a strong gateway for developing entrepreneurial and digital skills.

Survey data presented by ACCA also revealed that 50% of respondents feel they are not gaining the skills needed for the future, with concern highest at 55 per cent among junior and entry-level employees.

Abrol said the most at risk skills by 2030 include data analytics, cybersecurity, digital literacy, and ESG reporting, prompting ACCA to propose four priority reforms for the region.

These reforms include building capacity in sustainability reporting through specialised training and assurance, as well as enhancing digital skills by integrating AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity into national standards.

They also focus on expanding continuous upskilling through public–private partnerships and promoting stronger corporate governance and transparency, particularly in sustainability disclosures.

Abrol also suggested wider ASEAN cooperation through establishing centres of excellence in selected polytechnics, cross-country knowledge sharing, exchange visits between TVET institutions, and joint research on future labour market needs.

During the forum, ACCA signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in Vietnam to strengthen TVET partnerships with Ho Chi Minh City’s College of Foreign Economic Relations (COFER) and Hanoi College of Industrial Economics (HIEC).

The COFER MoU will expand access to ACCA’s Foundation in Accounting qualification for all students, building on a programme launched in 2024, while the HIEC MoU renews ACCA’s 2023 partnership to improve teaching quality and support lecturers and students pursuing international qualifications.

The ACCA Public Sector Forum: TVET 2026 examined how TVET can equip Malaysia’s public sector with future-ready skills aligned with national digitalisation and sustainability goals.

The forum also highlighted a global trend towards skills-based hiring, where employers prioritise demonstrable abilities over traditional qualifications, a shift expected to reshape recruitment across ASEAN.