Malaysia continues to register the highest number of active jobseekers in Asia, according to research from Hays.

The research analysed survey data from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. Over 9,500 responses were collected between October to November 2021. 

Hays found that 39% of Malaysian respondents said they were actively looking for a new job, while 46% said they were open to opportunities. Comparatively, the proportion of active jobseekers were 35% in Japan, 29% in Hong Kong, 26% in Singapore, and 23% in China.

The search for a better salary package was overwhelmingly the top reason why respondents were looking to change jobs (75%) in Malaysia. Nearly half, or 49%, said they were seeking new challenges, while 48% wanted better benefits like healthcare insurance and allowance.

“After two years of suppressing their demands for salary raises, it is unsurprising that workers in Malaysia are taking matters into their own hands in search of a pay package that meets their expectations, or at least comes close,” said Tom Osborne, Managing Director of Hays Malaysia.

Salary package was also one of the second most important factor keeping employees in their current jobs (51%). Work-life balance was the top retention factor but not by much, at 52%.

Many are putting their plans to change jobs into action by developing their skills. Over half of employees in Malaysia, 55%, are spending time on developing soft skills, 32% on developing hard skills, and 13% on getting higher or additional qualifications. Most people reported spending about 1-2 hours per week on upskilling.

“21% of respondents (in Malaysia) said they were not doing anything to upskill themselves, which in our rapidly evolving world of work, would put them at a disadvantage. Focus on working on the skills that employers are looking for,” Osborne said. “Analytical skills and communication skills are the hard and soft skills employers said they value the most.”