Overview of Hiring Activity
Hiring activity in Malaysia rose by 4% month-on-month in December 2025, marking a clear rebound in recruitment momentum toward year-end. After a flat 3-month trend (0%) and only marginal growth over six months (+1%), the December uptick signals that employers have begun reopening hiring pipelines after a prolonged period of caution.
On a year-on-year basis, the market has now stabilised (0% YoY), indicating that Malaysia has effectively worked through the hiring correction seen earlier in the year and entered a phase of cautious normalisation rather than contraction.
While short-term volatility remains, hiring demand is now being anchored by infrastructure, energy, logistics, professional services, and selected business functions, pointing to a structurally healthier base than in previous quarters.
Hiring Trends by Industry (YoY change)
Seven of eleven tracked industries recorded annual growth, led by engineering, logistics, advertising, energy, and diversified services. Malaysia’s hiring engine is being driven by infrastructure activity, supply-chain modernisation, and a revival in business services.
In demand
Engineering, Construction & Real Estate (+31%)
Infrastructure spending, commercial development, and redevelopment activity continue to generate strong demand for engineers, project managers, planners, and site-execution specialists.
Logistics, Courier/Freight, Transportation, Shipping & Marine (+26%)
E-commerce, regional trade flows, and warehousing expansion are sustaining high demand for supply-chain professionals, transport planners, and last-mile operations talent.
Advertising, Market Research, PR, Media & Entertainment (+27%)
Brand investment, digital marketing, and content-led growth strategies are driving hiring across creative, media buying, analytics, and communications roles.
Oil & Gas (+11%)
Energy prices and capital-expenditure cycles are supporting renewed hiring across exploration support, engineering services, and operations.
IT, Telecom & BPO/ITES (+9%)
After a weak start to the year, tech-enabled services and outsourcing roles are showing recovery, supported by regional digitalisation and cross-border service demand.
BFSI (+6%)
Banks, insurers, and fintechs continue selective hiring driven by compliance, digital banking, and risk-management needs.
Production/Manufacturing, Automotive & Ancillary (+4%)
Stable factory output and supply-chain localisation continue to support modest but positive workforce additions.
Others (+31%)
A wide range of niche and SME-driven industries are contributing to growth, reflecting broad-based business normalisation.
Facing challenges
Retail (-15%)
Despite improving macro conditions, consumer spending remains uneven, keeping store-level and merchandising hiring under pressure.
Hiring Trends by Functional Area (YoY change)
Functional hiring in Malaysia shows a strong pivot toward logistics, HR, marketing, and diversified specialist roles, while sales and hospitality functions remain under stress.
In demand
Purchase, Logistics & Supply Chain (+25%)
One of the strongest functional performers, reflecting ongoing investments in warehousing, inventory management, cross-border trade, and delivery networks.
HR & Admin (+17%)
Workforce restructuring, compliance, and organisational transformation are driving sustained demand for HR professionals.
Marketing & Communications(+10%)
Digital campaigns, performance marketing, and brand rebuilding efforts continue to support hiring across content, media, and communications functions.
Customer Service (+9%)
Despite automation, rising e-commerce and service expectations are sustaining demand for support, operations, and customer-facing roles.
Engineering/Production (+3%)
Construction, manufacturing, and energy projects continue to generate steady demand for technical and site-execution talent.
Others (+24%)
Specialist, project-based, and emerging roles are seeing strong growth across diverse sectors.
Facing challenges
Sales & Business Development (-10%)
Companies remain cautious about expanding frontline sales teams, prioritising productivity, digital acquisition, and cost efficiency.
Finance & Accounts (-3%)
Automation of reporting and tighter cost controls continue to moderate hiring in transactional finance roles.
Hospitality Roles (-33%)
Despite sectoral recovery, hotels and travel operators continue to operate with leaner staffing models and technology-enabled service delivery.
Why the Mixed Signals?
Infrastructure, logistics, and services are powering growth
Engineering, logistics, energy, and advertising are driving hiring as Malaysia benefits from infrastructure investment, trade flows, and business-service expansion.
Efficiency is reshaping white-collar hiring
Sales, finance, and hospitality roles remain under pressure as companies adopt digital tools, automation, and leaner operating models.
The recovery is structural, not speculative
Unlike earlier post-pandemic rebounds, today’s hiring is being led by operationally critical sectors—supply chains, compliance, engineering, and customer experience—rather than broad-based headcount expansion.
About the foundit Insights Tracker
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) Malaysia — formerly the Monster Employment Index — is a leading indicator of online hiring activity across the country. By analysing millions of job postings every month, fit delivers timely, data-driven insights into recruitment trends across industries, functions, and skill segments, enabling employers and jobseekers to make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving labour market.
