Job availability in Malaysia rises to record heights

The number of available jobs advertised online rose 23.5% in Q2’2023, rising to a record 261,231 vacancies from 211,509 vacancies recorded in Q1’2023, according to data released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Chief Statistician, said that according to the report titled Big Data Analytics Job Market Insights and My Job Profile: Job Vacancies Advertised Online in Malaysia, during the Q2’2023, there were 70,571 establishments that advertised for available jobs, a notable increase from 55,006 establishments reported in the preceding quarter. Meanwhile, job vacancies saw a year-on-year increase of 29.3% in Q2’2023 compared to a 32.9% annual rise in Q1’2023.

In terms of job availability by occupation type, professionals accounted for the largest share during Q2 2023 with 48.1% or 125,625 vacancies. This was followed by technicians and associate professionals (18.3%), managers (15.1%) and service and sales workers (6.9%).

Regarding the most in-demand skills in the job market, Dr Mohd Uzir said statistics showed that there was high demand for soft skills among employers comprising proficiency in English, effective communication, Bahasa Malaysia proficiency, planning capabilities and marketing skills.

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“Furthermore, there is an increasing emphasis on hard or technical skills, namely Mandarin proficiency, analysis abilities, proficiency in Microsoft Office, filing expertise and project management skills,” he said. Dr Mohd Uzir recommended that job seekers consistently develop and align these skills with the current requirements of the dynamic job market, reported The Star.