Overview of Hiring Activity
Malaysia’s online hiring activity continued its positive trajectory in February 2026, with the foundit Insights Tracker rising 9% year-on-year. Month-on-month, hiring edged up 2%, reflecting a more tempered near-term pace even as the broader trend stays constructive — hiring is up 9% over the last 3 months and 11% over the last 6 months, underpinned by stronger GDP growth in late 2025, persistently low unemployment, and sustained activity across services, manufacturing, and construction. Employers are adding capacity selectively — skills-based and targeted — rather than expanding broadly.
8 out of 10 industries tracked by the Index registered year-on-year growth in February 2026, with Engineering, Logistics, and Advertising leading the charge.
Hiring Trends by Industry (YoY change)
The market is broadly positive at the industry level, with only Retail and BFSI in negative territory.
In demand
Engineering, Construction & Real Estate (+28%) The standout performer. Infrastructure execution, urban development, and commercial project pipelines continue to fuel strong demand across technical, site, and project management roles.
Logistics, Courier/Freight/Transportation & Shipping/Marine (+27%) Sustained e-commerce volumes, active trade flows, and supply chain expansion are driving robust hiring across fulfilment, transport, and logistics operations.
Others (+26%) Broad growth across niche and mixed-sector categories points to improving confidence and selective expansion across smaller verticals.
Advertising, Market Research, PR, Media & Entertainment (+19%) Rising corporate spend on digital marketing, performance media, and content is sustaining strong hiring across creative, media, and campaign functions.
IT, Telecom/ISP & BPO/ITES (+11%) Selective but meaningful growth, driven by demand for digital, cloud, cybersecurity, and efficiency-led roles as organisations push ahead with technology transformation.
Oil & Gas (+11%) A notable uptick, though hiring remains measured as capital discipline and restrained upstream investment continue to cap net additions.
Production/Manufacturing, Automotive & Ancillary (+4%) Steady but limited expansion as firms prioritise automation and productivity over significant headcount growth.
Hospitality & Travel (+2%) A modest return to positive territory as operators stabilise staffing after post-pandemic normalisation.
Facing challenges
BFSI (−6%) Banks and financial institutions are focused on automation, productivity, and selective backfilling, with net hiring now in decline as consolidation takes hold.
Retail (−14%) The steepest industry decline, reflecting cautious consumer spending and ongoing cost optimisation at store level.
Hiring Trends by Functional Area (YoY change)
Functional hiring is more mixed, with 5 out of 10 areas recording year-on-year growth. Supply chain, HR, and engineering functions lead; customer service and hospitality roles face severe pressure.
In demand
Purchase/Logistics/Supply Chain (+18%) The top-performing function. Companies are doubling down on supply chain resilience, inventory control, and logistics optimisation amid steady trade and e-commerce activity.
Others (+12%) Broad growth across miscellaneous functions reflects improving momentum across a range of support and operational roles.
HR & Admin (+10%) Renewed demand points to workforce stabilisation, compliance needs, and replacement hiring as organisations rebuild people management capacity.
Engineering/Production (+4%) Positive momentum aligns with broader strength in construction and logistics-linked industries, with hiring supporting ongoing projects and operational continuity.
Finance & Accounts (+3%) A reversal from recent softness, with organisations strengthening financial controls and compliance functions amid tighter cost management.
Facing challenges
Marketing & Communications (−1%) Marginal decline as performance marketing budgets tighten slightly and headcount additions give way to productivity optimisation.
Sales & Business Development (−6%) Firms remain cautious on frontline commercial expansion, prioritising productivity and existing account monetisation over headcount additions.
IT (−7%) A pullback despite sector-level growth in tech industries, suggesting demand is consolidating around specialist profiles rather than broad tech hiring.
Hospitality Roles (−36%) A steep functional decline as staffing levels correct after post-pandemic normalisation, with operators focused firmly on leaner models over workforce expansion.
Customer Service (−39%) The sharpest functional decline. Automation, self-service adoption, and AI-led support models are rapidly hollowing out demand for traditional customer service roles.
About the foundit Insights Tracker
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) Malaysia (formerly the Monster Employment Index) is a monthly benchmark of online hiring activity across the nation. By analysing millions of job postings, fit provides timely, data-led intelligence on recruitment trends across industries, occupations, and skill categories, helping organisations and talent navigate an evolving labour market.
