Malaysia Faces Growing Demand For Skilled Rail Workforce By 2030

Malaysia, September 2026 — The expansion of Malaysia’s railway infrastructure is creating additional requirements for skilled personnel across train operations, engineering, maintenance and rail technology. The workforce challenge is being addressed through closer alignment between technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes and industry requirements.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said Malaysia is expected to need about 25,000 workers in rail technology and operations by 2030. The Human Resources Ministry, through the Department of Manpower, is developing TVET courses designed around the technologies, skills and knowledge required by the rail industry.

Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said approximately 3,000 workers would be required specifically for ECRL operations, infrastructure maintenance and rolling stock maintenance. He added that demand would extend beyond ECRL to other rail operators, including Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd.

The workforce requirement is emerging as ECRL moves towards operations. MRL reported that overall construction had reached 95.41% by August, with Phase One between Kota Bharu and Gombak at 97.65%. A full 520-kilometre test journey between Gombak and Kota Bharu was completed on September 25, taking about three hours and 19 minutes at speeds of up to 160 km/h.

The focus on rail-specific TVET reflects a broader shift in Malaysia’s rail sector from infrastructure delivery towards long-term system operation and asset management. Building a workforce with capabilities across signalling, power systems, rolling stock, track and operations will become increasingly important as new rail assets enter service and existing networks continue to expand.

Source: Business Today