Demand for Malaysian IT, tech talent to rise as e-recruitment sentiment spikes

• Singapore and the Philippines report a steady but less dramatic growth
• Malaysia shines as a hotbed for tech talent

MALAYSIA’S upbeat economic outlook despite significant headwinds has led to an uptick in online hiring sentiment, especially for roles across the IT, telecom/ ISP and BPO/ ITES sectors.

It reported a strong 36% growth year-on-year, as reported by the Monster Employment Index (MEI).

The MEI is a monthly gauge of online job hiring activity by Monster.com, which records the industries and occupations that show the highest and lowest growth in e-recruitment, including statistics from the IT/Telecom sector.

The Philippines too reported a 19% growth, which is a slight improvement from December’s annual registered growth of 12%.

Singapore accounted an 11% year-on-year growth, which is a slight slump from December’s 14% growth.

This sector saw the most-notable growth among other industry sectors in the city-state.

IT, Telecom/ ISP and BPO/ ITES industry:

Observing the annual e-recruitment landscape for software, hardware and telecom talent, Malaysia exhibits strong signs of demand in hiring, reporting an increase year-on-year with 57% growth year-on-year.

Both Malaysia and the Philippines have consistently reported an upward trend when compared to last few MEI indices.

Singapore recorded a 21% year-on-year growth in January, the weakest amongst the three markets, whereas Philippines recorded a 25% growth, a steep improvement from previous month’s 11% year-on-year.

Among other occupation groups, software, hardware, telecom professionals exhibited the most notable growth in demand in Singapore.

Software, Hardware, Telecom jobs:

“Hiring sentiments remain favourable across the region, as governments inject funding to boost the start-up ecosystem. Digitalisation and automation are leading companies to the next leap of transformation, which is creating demand for very specialised roles such as and have ramped up their recruitment efforts.

However, despite the demand for IT and Tech roles, there is a shortage in the talent pool for niche roles. Upskilling will be key to meet current market demands which are in search of talent with niche skills and expertise,” said Monster.com – APAC and Middle East managing director Sanjay Modi.

The Monster Employment Index is a monthly gauge of online job posting activity, based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large representative selection of career websites and online job listings across Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The Index does not reflect the trend of any one advertiser or source, but is an aggregate measure of the change in job listings across the industry.

See below for all trends across Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines for January 2017:

Singapore highlights:

• Monster Employment Index Singapore plunges 2% from the year-ago level.
• IT, telecom/ISP and BPO/ITES and hospitality register the steepest annual growth among industry sectors and retail/trade and logistics declines the most.
• Software, hardware, telecom professionals witness most demand on-the-year.

Malaysia highlights:

• Monster Employment Index Malaysia records year-on-year growth of 2%.
• IT, telecom/ISP and BPO/ITES leads among industry sectors and Hospitality witnesses the steepest decline, on-the-year.
• Among job roles, software, hardware, telecom exhibits the most notable annual demand.

Philippines Highlights:

• Monster Employment Index Philippines exceeds the year-ago level by 6%. 
• BPO/ITES witnesses the steepest growth among sectors on-the-year; whereas, engineering, construction and real estate exhibits the most-notable decline.
• Software, hardware, telecom professionals experience the highest growth in demand on annual basis.   

 
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