57% CEOs confident on global economic growth

KUALA LUMPUR: Fifty-seven percent of almost 1,300 chief executive officers around the world believe that global economic growth will improve in the next 12 months, based on PwC’s 21st survey.

“Globally, with the stock markets booming and gross domestic product (GDP) predicted to grow in most major markets, it is no surprise the CEOs are so bullish,” said PwC global chairman, Bob Moritz, in a statement.

Based on the survey, the top three most confident sectors for their own 12-month prospects are technology, business services, and pharmaceutical and life sciences.

In terms of recruitment, more than half of the CEOs plan to increase their headcount this year, with healthcare, technology, business services, communications, and hospitality and leisure among the sectors with the highest demand for new recruits.

In the survey, 22 percent of the CEOs are extremely concerned about the availability of key digital skills in the workforce, 27 percent in their industry and 23 percent at their leadership level.

Investment in modern working environments, learning and development programmes, and partnering with other providers are the top strategies to help them attract and develop the digital talents they need.

On the impact of technology on employment and skills, Moritz said the education systems needed to arm a global workforce with the right skills to succeed.

“Governments, communities and businesses need to truly partner to match talent with opportunity, and that means pioneering new approaches to educating students and training workers in the fields that will matter in a technology-enabled job market.

“It also means encouraging and creating opportunities for the workforce to retrain and learn new skills throughout their careers,” he said.

PwC conducted 1,293 interviews with CEOs in 85 countries between August and November last year, weighted by national GDP to ensure fair view represented across all major countries. Bernama