Overview of hiring activity in Malaysia
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) for Malaysia fell 3% month-on-month in July 2025. On a year-on-year basis, hiring was 20% lower, while the 3-month and 6-month trends were +3% and -1%, indicating a cautious hiring climate with only tentative near-term stabilisation.
Hiring trends by industry (YoY)
3 of 10 industries recorded positive annual growth in hiring
In demand
- Hospitality & Travel (+11%) – Supported by a strong tourism rebound.
- Engineering, Construction & Real Estate (+10%) – Backed by big ticket public infrastructure in the pipeline.
- Oil & Gas (+1%) – Stable demand, tracking steady upstream services and maintenance cycles.
Facing challenges
- Retail (-50%) – Hiring remains weak even as official wholesale/retail sales show mid-single-digit growth, implying consolidation and productivity focus in hiring.
- BFSI (-47%) – Banks stay selective amid margin pressure and cost discipline.
- IT/Telecom/ BPO (-33%) & Logistics/Shipping (-18%) – External-demand risks and tech budget scrutiny weigh on volumes.
Hiring trends by functional area (YoY)
2 of 10 functional areas saw annual growth in hiring
In demand
- IT (+10%) – Ongoing digitisation agendas, cloud and security needs.
- Engineering/Production (+9%) – Capacity adds in construction/industrial projects.
Facing challenges
- Sales & BD (-32%), Hospitality roles (-30%), Finance & Accounts (-22%), HR & Admin (-18%), Purchase/Logistics/Supply Chain (-17%) – Firms are prioritising efficiency and targeted backfills over broad expansion.
Short-term signals
- Customer Service (+11% MoM) and Retail (+4% MoM) ticked up, hinting at near-term stabilisation in consumer-facing hiring even as YoY comps stay weak.
About the foundit insights tracker
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) Malaysia, earlier known as the Monster Employment Index, is a leading guide to the country’s e-recruitment landscape. By examining millions of job listings, fit provides timely insights into hiring activity across industries and functions.
