Exploring challenges and strategies in addressing skilled worker shortages in the Malaysian printing industry

The Malaysian printing industry, a longstanding pillar of the national economy, generated approximately RM14.5 billion in revenue in 2023 but continues to face a critical skilled worker shortage, threatening its growth and competitiveness. This study addresses this gap by investigating the specific challenges encountered by printing companies in recruiting and retaining skilled personnel, as well as the strategies they employ to mitigate these shortages. Through in-depth interviews with eight industry representatives including company owners, human resources and operations managers. This research utilized thematic analysis and an inductive approach to uncover key themes. The findings reveal that the skilled worker shortages leads to significant issues, including compromised product quality, decreased customer satisfaction, operational inefficiencies, and technical limitations. The main contribution of this thesis is the development of a validated, context-specific framework strategy that provides systematic guidance for companies to address skilled worker shortages. This framework, informed by both literature and industry insights, offers practical solutions to help companies maintain high standards, attract young professionals, and ensure a sustainable supply of skilled workers. The significance of these findings lies in their potential to inform industry stakeholders and policymakers, offering actionable recommendations for workforce development and setting a foundation for future research in Malaysia and beyond.