THE number of jobs in Malaysia rose 22% in 2Q 2021 from the previous quarter as multinationals (MNCs) with existing footprint in the country expand their operations either with new functions or skill sets.
There has also been new market entrants and foreign direct investment (FDI) coming into Malaysia and setting up global business services centres, according to global recruitment specialists Michael Page Malaysia.
According to job opportunity data shared by Michael Page, this was also observed with growth in opportunities within sectors such as financial services & fintech (up 43%) and healthcare & life sciences (up 26%).
As for financial services and fintech companies, they have expanded their digital capabilities by increasing adoption of digital and mobile banking, mainly in e-wallets and digital payment gateways.
“With the rapid pace of online consumerism, banks are playing catch up in this space,” commented Michael Page Malaysia’s country head Nic Chambers.
This has in turn increased compliance and governance job opportunities as companies quickly align with the new regulations from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
Similarly, job opportunities in the technology sphere have seen double digit growth as Malaysia stays committed to the Industry 4.0 agenda. The earmarked areas are within cybersecurity, data analytics, Big Data and cloud technology.
With increased activity within mobile, app and web development, the demand for UI (user interface)/UX (user experience) expertise has spiked together with experience in front end, backend and full stack development.
Meanwhile, the Michael Page Malaysia Talent Trends 2021 report also found that healthcare & life sciences industry saw a rise in hiring (up 26%) in 2Q 2021 with in-demand roles for radiographers, laboratory technologists, clinical research, specialist doctors and R&D scientists.
“The COVID-19 pandemic saw a record increase in hiring within healthcare companies as well as a rise in the number of new businesses specialising in pharmaceutical and medical devices that entered the Malaysian market to meet demands within the region,” Chambers shared.
“We can expect biotech companies and health sciences organisations to consolidate and push boundaries for innovation.” – Aug 17, 2021
