share on
Respondents indicated that there are still challenges to HR delivery; particularly when it comes to supporting line managers to manage their teams effectively, and in building organisational cultures and values.
While hybrid working arrangements have become popular across Asia Pacific (APAC), its impact across the region varies.
According to the new People Profession 2023: Asia-Pacific Survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Malaysian people professionals especially indicate that there are still challenges to HR delivery; particularly when it comes to supporting line managers to manage their teams effectively and building organisational cultures and values.
As a whole, the study surveyed over 800 people professionals across Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore, providing insights into the talent management landscape, workforce priorities, and the nuances of hybrid working.
In Malaysia, economic change and rising costs were ranked as the top driver of change for local people professionals. This was followed by:
- Digital transformation and advancing technology
- Digital technology platforms
- Industrial change and organisational agility
- Social media and content consumption
Interestingly, this was the only market to indicate social media and content consumption as a top driver.
Engaging with the workforce was noted as another people priority area, suggesting the need for a cultural reset to focus on employee experience, engagement, and culture in a post-pandemic workplace.
In terms of the impact of hybrid working, only around a third of respondents in Malaysia feel that hybrid working has made people objectives easier to deliver. In fact, nearly a quarter believe the following people practices have become more challenging in a hybrid context:
- supporting employees' mental health & wellbeing
- managing performance, and
- supporting line managers to manage their teams effectively.
Comparatively, early-career people professionals across APAC, with up to five years of experience, expressed a greater belief that hybrid working facilitates people management. These diverging views raise questions about whether working preferences, adaptability, and openness to change influence perceptions of hybrid working, potentially differing from those with more experience who may be more attuned to strategic challenges.
Barriers to progression amongst people professionals
While the APAC region recorded notable diversity in barriers to career advancement, Malaysian people professionals highlighted organisational politics (18%) as a significant obstacle. Against this backdrop, about half of the respondents indicated a strong likelihood of departing from their current organisation within the next 12 months, and 70% are actively exploring new opportunities.
Amid persistent recruitment challenges, employers in Malaysia are prioritising developing current workforce skills to bridge gaps and fuel business growth.
Particularly, the top priority in Malaysia goes to workforce planning, serving as a crucial strategy to manage talent, address skills gaps, and mitigate associated business risks. Notably, APAC respondents place less emphasis on recruitment compared to other international markets.
At the same time, Malaysian respondents show a greater inclination to outsource administrative HR tasks, suggesting a broader trend in Asia where HR teams are evolving from a supportive role to strategic partners influencing business decisions.
Lastly, three-quarters of respondents in Malaysia recorded skills development as a key enabler when it comes to career progression.
May Leng Kwok, Head of Market Development – Global, for CIPD, commented: "With its rich diversity, Malaysia presents unique challenges and opportunities within talent management. Recognising the distinctive nature of the Malaysian market, it's evident that a universal approach won't suffice.
"Navigating these complexities, the survey acts as a compass, guiding us and people professionals to comprehend and address the intricacies shaping the future of work in the country and the rest of the region."
Lead image / People Profession 2023: Asia-Pacific Survey
share on
