Four broad industries – semiconductor and wafer fabrication, electrical and electronics (E&E), computer and IT (software), and transportation and logistics – have recovered to pre-pandemic levels or even higher, according to JobStreet, Malaysia’s employment platform by SEEK.

According to its recently released Job Outlook Report 2022 (Malaysia), even the hardest hit industries by Covid-19 have shown signs of recovery in terms of the number of job opportunities posted and applications received on the platform.

JobStreet operations director Ashwin Jeyapalasingam said the study details the supply and demand of jobs in Malaysia to give employers a clear view for future hiring plans. 

“It is aimed at helping employers allocate hiring resources more effectively, better understand the job market sentiment while enabling them to draw out more optimised remuneration schemes,” he said.

Ashwin said that these four broad industries experienced strong recovery and growth primarily due to digital transformation initiatives which increased productivity and operational efficiencies.

The study noted that demand for semiconductors rose strongly last year due to digital transformation brought by the pandemic and shortages in the automotive industry. 

Around 70% of job advertisements for the semiconductor and wafer fabrication industry were for jobs in the engineering and manufacturing specialisation, with a majority from Penang, the ‘Silicon Valley of the East’, which accounted for 55% of the job ads, it added.

Meanwhile, the E&E industry remained resilient to drive the growth of the healthcare, automotive, and retail sectors.

Job ads and applications on JobStreet’s platform grew in tandem to meet this growth, the study highlighted. 

It said engineering-related posts contributed the most job ads in the industry at 35.8%, with Penang once again, accounting for a majority of the job ads at 50%, followed by Selangor at 23%.

The growth in the number of job postings and applications in the computer and IT (software) industry reflected the global shortage of IT talents, the study stated, indicating that employers may need to entice workers with better compensation, benefits, and work arrangements. 

In this instance, Jobstreet said Selangor was the most advertised work location in 2021, accounting for 41% of job ads, with engineering (9.4%) and sales (9.3%) specialisations drawing the most attention in the industry.

It highlighted that the rise of online shopping has created a myriad of job opportunities in logistic companies and third-party logistics sectors. 

Job advertisements for the logistics and supply chain management specialisations increased by 48%, accounting for 30% of job ads posted across all industries, with positions situated in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur accounting for 77% of the job ads, Jobstreet noted.

Other industries that have shown more gradual, but still steady, recovery from the pandemic include healthcare and medical, manufacturing and production, food and beverages, retail and merchandise, building, construction and engineering, as well as banking and finance, it said.

The report also noted that hiring activities increased with the growth of the number of people in the population who have been fully vaccinated, and with the easing of movement restrictions. 

Most industries (55 out of 60) saw an increase in job ad postings in Q4 2021, the report noted.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation chief digital industry officer Gopi Ganesalingam said, “At MDEC, we are continuously elevating Malaysia's digital ecosystem to be of global standards, while covering stakeholders from government (public) industry (private) and global ecosystems.

“Areas covered are community engagements with entrepreneurs, accelerators, venture builders, funders/investors, policy makers – from start-up disruptors to scaling them to be unicorns – and creating gainful employment along the way,” he said.

To download the Job Outlook Report 2022 by JobStreet, click here.

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