Malaysia recorded a 7% year-on-year growth in online recruitment activity in August 2023 when compared to the same month a year ago, according to the foundit Insights Tracker, formerly published as Monster Employment Index (MEI).

In August, job opportunities in Malaysia showed a positive resurgence with 1% month-over-month growth.

Sekhar Garisa, CEO of foundit, said, “Malaysia is currently experiencing a favourable hiring environment, but there is an increasing demand for new skills across various sectors.”

Malaysia experienced year-on-year growth of 88% in the hospitality sector. This growth can be attributed to strategic government initiatives, including substantial investments in overseas promotions and digital content on international television channels. The retail sector also witnessed remarkable growth in Malaysia (63%).

Sales & business development roles recorded 34% year-on-year growth, signifying a proactive approach by businesses to expand their market presence and seize emerging opportunities.

The logistics sector saw increased demand (25%) due to significant e-commerce growth.

In the technology domain, notable declines were observed in IT, Telecom/ISP, and BPO/ITES (business process outsourcing/IT enabled services).

In Malaysia, the tech sector showed resilience, with software, hardware, and telecom roles experiencing a 3% year-on-year growth. This growth reflects the ongoing digitisation efforts across industries, demanding professionals with technology expertise to drive innovation and efficiency.

Conversely, Malaysia's customer service sector faced significant challenges, witnessing a 44% annual decline due to evolving dynamics and automation's increasing role.

Meanwhile, hospitality and travel roles saw a surge of 133% year-on-year growth.

The index showed that purchase/logistics/supply chain professionals faced diverse challenges, with Malaysia showing a slight 2% year-on-year increase.