LACK OF QUALITY TALENT STILL A MAJOR CONCERN, REVEALS SURVEY

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysian business leaders and senior decision makers still identify the lack of quality talent as a major concern in the business world.

The findings were revealed by a survey titled "Asian Outlook 2011" carried out by BTI Consultants, a division of Kelly Outsourcing and Consulting Group Malaysia, which also indicated that Malaysian businesses were now focusing on grooming their existing workforce for future growth plans.

Kelly Outsourcing Senior Director Anthony Raja Devadoss said he expected the first half of the year to remain slow in terms of hiring.

"The recent economic downturn is still fresh in the minds of Malaysian businesses and employee recruitment took a backseat last year.

"However, as plans begin to strengthen and an upward trend is seen, business strategies will certainly influence hiring processes," he said in a statement Thursday.

The study also revealed several business outlooks for 2011, strategic business priorities and potential challenges that businesses would face, where the United States and Europe were identified as playing a major part in dictating how the Malaysian and Asian economies advanced.

"We began this year cautiously optimistic but Malaysian businesses are more upbeat for the rest of the year.

"Having weathered through economic situations, Malaysian companies have gained beneficial experience," Devadoss added.