Overview of Hiring Activity
The foundit Insights Tracker in Malaysia recorded a 7% annual decline in hiring activity from February 2024 to February 2025.
Despite this, there was a small month-on-month uptick, showing a stable but cautious hiring environment influenced by global trade dynamics and economic uncertainty.
Hiring Trends by Industry (YoY numbers)
3 out of 10 industries showed growth in hiring activity.
In Demand:
Oil & Gas(+22%) was the top-performing sector, bolstered by investment in energy and sustainability. Hospitality & Travel (+1%) showed marginal growth, and Logistics remained flat (0%) but showed double-digit monthly momentum.
Facing Challenges:
Retail (-26%), IT, Telecom/ISP, and BPO/ITES (-23%), and Advertising/Media (-8%) experienced notable declines amid changing consumer trends and cautious tech hiring.
Hiring Trends by Functional Area (YoY numbers)
4 out of 10 functional areas reported annual growth.
In Demand:
Software, Hardware & Telecom (+28%) saw the highest growth, followed by Finance & Accounts (+10%) and Purchase/Logistics/Supply Chain (+3%).
Facing Challenges:
Hospitality Roles (-63%) and Customer Service (-8%) faced heavy annual declines, although short-term upticks suggest a potential bounce back.
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.
