Overview of Hiring Activity
The foundit Insights Tracker for Malaysia recorded a 4% month-on-month increase in hiring activity in June 2025. However, hiring remained 10% lower year-on-year, indicating a continued phase of recalibration as organisations adjust to sectoral headwinds and evolving workforce needs.
Hiring Trends by Industry (YoY numbers)
3 out of 10 industries tracked showed annual growth in hiring.
In Demand:
- Engineering, Construction and Real Estate (+15%) led growth, driven by infrastructure projects and sustained real estate investments.
- Oil & Gas (+5%) continued to see stable hiring, fuelled by demand for digitally skilled professionals in sustainable operations.
- Logistics and Shipping (+4%) remained resilient with ongoing demand for supply chain optimisation and fulfilment efficiency.
Facing Challenges:
- Retail (-51%) experienced the steepest decline amid cost pressures and changing shopper behaviour.
- IT, Telecom/ISP, and BPO/ITES (-33%) and BFSI (-18%) also reported downturns, reflecting structural adjustments and cautious tech spending.
- Media & Entertainment (-1%) remained relatively flat.
Hiring Trends by Functional Area (YoY numbers)
4 out of 10 functional areas registered annual growth.
In Demand:
- Engineering & Production (+8%) and HR & Admin (+5%) saw healthy growth as businesses restructured teams and rebuilt capacity.
- Customer Service (+6%) and Sales & BD (+6%) gained momentum, aligned with renewed consumer-facing strategies.
Facing Challenges:
- Hospitality Roles (-25%), Finance & Accounts (-11%), and IT (-4%) remained under pressure as businesses focused on leaner operations and tech stack efficiency.
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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