The global semiconductor industry is facing a critical talent bottleneck, with an estimated shortage of one million skilled professionals by 2030, according to a recent report by McKinsey.
Senior Fellow of the Industry Advocacy Group (IAG) MIMOS and Consultant for the Malaysia IC Designer Association (MCDA), Mr David Khor, said that while Malaysia is among the world’s top 10 players in the sector, the widening talent gap threatens to hinder innovation and production across the industry.
“Demand is surging, but the workforce is not keeping pace,” he said during his Industrial Talk titled “Future Talent for the Semiconductor Industry”, held on 12 November 2025 and organised by Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).
The event was graced by UniKL Deputy Dean (International, Industrial and Institutional Partnership), Prof. Ir. Dr. Azmi Hassan, who emphasised the importance of industry readiness and encouraged students to continuously upskill to stay competitive.
Also present was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ts. Md Redzuan Zoolfakar, Director of the UniKL Centre of Linkages (CIL).
Mr David highlighted that ASEAN’s total trade in goods rose by 8.9% in 2024 to reach USD 3.8 trillion, a trend that has driven companies to diversify manufacturing locations and channel new investments into the region.
His session gave students valuable exposure to industry expectations, essential skill sets, and the growing opportunities within Malaysia’s expanding semiconductor landscape.
Participants demonstrated strong engagement throughout the programme, especially during the Q&A session, where they posed thoughtful and relevant questions that reflected their curiosity and eagerness to learn.
