Salaries for workers in Malaysia within the digital technology industries saw nearly no growth this year but are expected to improve in 2022, reports Free Malaysia Today, citing research from the National Tech Association of Malaysia. The research found that the digital economy was not spared the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the restrictions pushing greater adoption of technology. Based on the current trend for the year, the group expected average salary growth this year to be 0.1% to MYR 9,835 (USD 2,349) a month, continuing a downward growth trend that began in 2017 when wages grew by 5%. The Association’s research chairman Woon Tai Hai noted that salaries are forecast to grow by 2% next year to MYR 10,034 (USD 2,397) a month.

The research found that opportunities in the digital sector had been relatively plentiful despite the pandemic, showing there was still demand in the industry for talent, particularly in the entry-level and middle-management roles. In reference to the 12th Malaysia Plan’s target for the digital economy to account for 25.5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025, Woon said this was possible judging by the industry’s current trajectory. With the statistics department’s most recent data estimate that the sector contributed 19.1% to GDP in 2019, the Association’s projections expect this to be closer to 22.4% this year and reach 23.4% in 2022.