KUCHING: Sarawakians have been urged to continuously upskill and adapt to new technologies as automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics reshape the future workforce.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said global economic changes and rapid technological advancements would require workers to acquire new skills to remain competitive in high-value industries.
He expressed confidence that the state could build a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of future industries if given proper training and skills development.
“We want Sarawakians to have the skills and expertise required in industrial sectors that offer higher salaries.
“With the rising cost of living, salary increases must match living costs, while workers themselves must continue improving their skills and productivity to secure better-paying jobs,” he said.
He said this during his speech at the Labour Day 2026 Sarawak-level celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today (May 10).
Abang Johari said Sarawak’s future job market would increasingly focus on technology-based industries, adding that Sarawakians were capable of succeeding if given proper training and exposure.
He also said robots and humanoid technologies would play a bigger role in future workplaces, but stressed that such systems still relied on human intelligence, data input and decision-making.
“Robots will work as partners to humans, but their operations still depend on decisions made by people,” he said.
Despite Sarawak’s population of only 2.8 million, he expressed confidence that the state could build a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of future industries.
