Kuala Lumpur, Oct 23: Governments and private sector must work together to prepare workers for the changing world of work, speakers said at the Global Skills Forum (GSF) 2025 held in Kuala Lumpur this week. They stressed on the important role of the private sector in shaping and sustaining skills development systems that meet the demands of this transformation.
The two-day event, organized by Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) under Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), brought together policymakers, business leaders, and education experts from around the world.
ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo said enterprise engagement is essential for any successful skills strategy. “No skills development strategy can succeed without enterprise engagement,” he said.
Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Zahid Hamidi called for skills to be seen as a matter of human dignity, not just economic progress. “When we speak about skills, we are talking about restoring dignity to labour and building a future where progress and compassion walk hand in hand,” he said.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong added that worker dignity comes from both protection and opportunity.
Discussions focused on how the private sector can help shape education and training systems to meet evolving labour market needs, including through Sector Skills Bodies, apprenticeships, and Centres of Excellence. It alsoemphasized the importance of aligning workforce development with industry needs and integrating cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and EdTech solutions, into training systems to build more resilient, future-ready workforces.
IOE Vice President Matthias Thorns noted that rapid technological change is creating new jobs and skills requirements faster than training systems can adapt.
The Forum also marked the end of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and the ASEAN Year of Skills 2025, capped by a Joint Statement by ASEAN Manpower Ministers reaffirming regional cooperation on workforce development.
“The future of skills development must be inclusive, technology-driven, and industry-led,” Houngbo said.
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