73% of Companies in Malaysia to Maintain or Increase Employment Headcount in 2021: Michael Page Malaysia Survey

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 6 April
2021 – Professional
recruitment services firm Michael Page Malaysia launched
the Talent Trends 2021 Report, with a keen eye on Hong Kong’s job market. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting
economic downturn has had a significant impact across the Asia Pacific, and
Malaysia was not spared. With that said, optimism is already starting to show,
with about 33% of companies in Malaysia looking to increase their headcount and
40% maintaining status quo in 2021.

Paul Cooper, Managing Director of Michael Page Malaysia, Thailand & Vietnam

Paul Cooper, Managing Director of Michael Page Malaysia, Thailand
& Vietnam, says, “From July
2020 onwards, various sectors in Malaysia began to experience steady recovery.
For example, the technology sector remained buoyant throughout 2020, with
businesses placing emphasis on business intelligence, data analytics, as well
as software development.”

In
view of the economic demands, the sectors earmarked for highest hiring activity
are technology & fintech, global business services/shared service centers, fast
moving consumer goods (FMCG), healthcare & life sciences as well as
engineering & manufacturing.

According to the report, digital transformation continues to have major implications in the
Hong Kong market. The appetite for tech functions across all industries is
high, especially in the commerce and financial services sectors.

In addition
to Malaysia’s anticipated employment activity, Paul Cooper sees more
opportunities for professionals, “Demand for talent within the semiconductors
and consumer electronics also sustained the engineering and manufacturing
sectors in Malaysia. As a major producer of medical devices, Malaysia’s
healthcare sector also experienced a significant increase in demand for talent
from the manufacturing and supply chain perspectives, specifically those with a
strong digital focus around invoicing, tracking and processing.” 

According
to the report, 66% of employed professionals anticipate looking for new
opportunities in 2021 while 31% of respondents say they do extensive research
before applying for a job. This suggests increased employment activity in Malaysia
within a candidate pool who are becoming increasingly empowered with a wealth
of information.

Paul
Cooper advises, “Business leaders are encouraged to remain agile and adapt work
practices and strategies to reflect a new working environment. Communication
and trust will be key in a remote working world as will the ability to keep an
eye on what will no doubt be a rapidly evolving future.”