KUALA LUMPUR, 11 NOVEMBER 2020 – The 2020/21 Malaysia Salary Guide by Kelly Services was revealed today, emphasising on the need for collaboration between the public and private sector to generate more opportunities for jobseekers, and lower Malaysia’s unemployment rate. The report simultaneously stressed the need for digital skills, a key demand by employers across almost every industry.
Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the Malaysian government took precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of its people by announcing the Movement Control Order (MCO). This resulted in a tidal wave of digital transformation across all organisations, substantially increasing the demand for highly skilled talent who are able to quickly adapt to new technologies.
“The new normal has emboldened organisations to explore new ways of working using technology, in an effort to ensure business continuity and productivity,” said Brian Sim, Managing Director and Country Head of Kelly Services Malaysia. “This transformation is a permanent change and one that has fast-tracked our nation’s journey towards IR4.0. Heading into 2021, digital skills will be fundamental to the employability of jobseekers and will be a vital ingredient to the career progression of those who are already employed.”
Thanks to the rise in technological adaption, opportunities for employment continue to spring up across the nation, giving rise to “new collar jobs”, which are technical jobs that do not rely on non-traditional education paths, but instead looks at the skills and capabilities of each candidate.
Information technology (IT)
Many new collar jobs can be found within the IT sector, which has been largely unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote work has driven the use of collaborative software, cloud data storage, as well as more advanced technoilogies like artiifical intelligence and machine learning, creating a demand for talent within this sector.
While there has been a slowdown in certain IT segments, the situation is expected to stabilise as we enter the new year. While demand there may be demand, employers need to also improve salaries and provide career growth opportunities to attract and retain critical talent in their organisation. Hot jobs to look out for in this sector include Lead Software Developer, Information Security Manager, Software Engineer and Analyst Programmer.
Sales and marketing
E-commerce boomed following the announcement of the MCO, as most retail outlets and restaurants shifted their business online. This has greatly empowered businesses to continue operating and engaging with customers, even when on-ground operations are restricted.
Online shopping is a norm that all Malaysians have embraced, and will remain so in the foreseeable future. This provides ample opportunities for professionals interested in this field, as almost every organisation endeavours to enhance their digital footprint online and on social media.
Social media savvy professionals are highly valued in this sector, as Malaysians continue to rank among the most active social media users on the planet. Highly adaptive and creative individuals will be increasingly sought after by businesses, as digital marketing becomes a top priority for businesses moving forward. Hot jobs to look out for in this sector include Business Development Manager, Marketing Manager and Brand Manager.
“Technology has truly been a silver lining to what would otherwise be a global economic disaster,” added Sim. “Our focus now should be on regaining our footing economically, leveraging our nation’s talents to spur growth across all industries and sectors. Accordingly, the workforce must adapt to the many technological changes and keep themselves up to date in order to stay competitive in the job market. Organisations should also support their workforce by consistently upskilling them to ensure both the employee and the business remains productive.”
To support the nation’s workforce, the Malaysian government introduced the Place & Train scheme under the PENJANA HRDF Initiative to help jobseekers with placement and training. This initiative is a joint effort between the public and private sector and includes companies like Kelly Services and its sister companies under the PERSOLKELLY umbrella. Thus far, the PENJANA HRDF Initiative has provided over 15,000 employment opportunities for Malaysians, with the number expected to rise in the coming months.
To learn more about the PENJANA HRDF Initiative, head over to: https://penjanahrdf.com.my
Please find the complete 2020/21 Malaysia Salary Guide here.
