Overview of Hiring Activity
The foundit Insights Tracker in Malaysia recorded a 13% annual decline in hiring activity from April 2024 to April 2025.
Hiring demand fell 1% month-on-month, with a 6% drop over the past three months, reflecting cautious workforce planning amid economic flux.
Hiring Trends by Industry (YoY numbers)
1 out of 10 industries tracked saw growth in hiring.
In Demand:
Oil & Gas (+10%) was the only sector to post year-on-year growth, driven by demand for cross-skilled talent in automation, sustainability, and digital operations.
Facing Challenges:
Retail (-42%) and IT, Telecom/ISP, and BPO/ITES (-33%) led the decline, while BFSI (-21%) and Media & Advertising (-22%) also contracted due to delayed investments and changing consumption patterns.
Hiring Trends by Functional Area (YoY numbers)
2 out of 10 functional areas reported annual growth.
In Demand:
Software, Hardware & Telecom (+28%) topped the charts, followed by Finance & Accounts (+8%), reflecting continued investment in digital and financial transformation.
Facing Challenges:
Hospitality Roles (-55%) and Customer Service (-27%) posted steep declines. However, Hospitality showed double-digit monthly growth, hinting at a possible rebound.
About the foundit insights tracker
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) Malaysia, earlier known as the Monster Employment Index, is the leading guide to Malaysia’s e-recruitment landscape. By examining millions of job listings, fit provides insights into trends across sectors and skills.
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