2019 HAYS ASIA

SALARY GUIDE
LAUNCH EVENT
WE ARE HAYS

34 10,000+
MARKETS WORLDWIDE staff worldwide

12
OFFICES IN ASIA Official
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MALAYSIA AND ASIA
MARKET OVERVIEW
ABOUT THE REPORT

12 th edition of the Guide

Survey Period:
Sep 2018 to Oct 2018

5,000+
Working professionals from Mainland China,
Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore

59% work for a

MNC with overseas 54% are Generation X
headquarters (born 1961 to 1982)
SALARY PREDICTIONS
FOR 2019
MALAYSIA
31% of professionals
Increase from Increase Stay the in Malaysia expect
above 3% but 17% from 6% 13% same their salary to increase
48% less than or equal from above 3% but less
to 6% than or equal to 6%

ASIA
25% of professionals
Increase from across Asia expect their
Stay the salary to increase from
above 3% but Increase 13% same
38% less than or equal 17% from 6% above 3% but
less than or equal
to 6%
to 6%
MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN SENTIMENT
TOWARDS COMPENSATION PACKAGES

MALAYSIA - 2019 ASIA - 2019

59% 61%

Very satisfied/satisfied Very satisfied/satisfied

2018 2018
+21% +18%
TOP BENEFITS OFFERED IN ADDITION TO
BONUS/SALARY

MALAYSIA
84% 51%
87%
of employers
Health/medical Car/car
40%
Life assurance
benefits allowance
provide benefits

ASIA 25%
73% 31% Pension
80% Health/medical
benefits Life assurance
25%
of employers
provide benefits Health and
wellness programs
PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES TO BE
AWARDED BONUSES
MALAYSIA 2019 ASIA 2019

46% of the employers indicate 48% of the employers indicate

that more than 50% of their staff that more than 50% of their staff
would be awarded bonuses would be awarded bonuses
2018 2018
-9% -2%

Bonuses are related to Bonuses are related to

88% 85%
Individual performance Individual performance

86% 84%
Company performance Company performance

47% 47%
Team performance Team performance
WHY ARE STAFF LOOKING TO
LEAVE THEIR ROLE IN 2019

49%
MALAYSIA not looking for
SALARY OR SEEKING NEW MANAGEMENT a new job but
BENEFIT CHALLENGES STYLE AND open to new
PACKAGE CULTURE opportunities
51%
68% 49%

45%
ASIA SALARY OR LACK OF not looking for
BENEFIT SEEKING NEW a new job but
CAREER
PACKAGE CHALLEGES open to new
PROGRESSION
60% 50% opportunities
45%
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
IS GETTING BETTER

MALAYSIA ASIA

46% 50%

Happy with work-life balance Happy with work-life balance

2018 2018
+2% +1%
FLEXIBLE WORKING OPTIONS EMPLOYEES
LOOK FOR WHEN CONSIDERING A NEW ROLE

MALAYSIA ASIA

60% Home or mobile

working 57%

55% Flexi-time 54%

Informal flexible
37% working 29%
SKILLS SHORTAGES IS STILL A CONCERN
FOR EMPLOYERS IN 2019

MALAYSIA ASIA MALAYSIA ASIA

55% 45% 71% 64%

Won’t be able to recruit candidates with Skill shortages has had a negative impact
the skills needed to meet their needs on productivity

MALAYSIA ASIA MALAYSIA ASIA MALAYSIA ASIA

46% 45% 65% 62% 94% 93%

Lack of professional training Have up-skilled their current workforce Will harm the effective operations of
and professional development businesses/departments in 2019
is a cause of skill shortages
SKILLS IN DEMAND

HARD SKILLS SOFT SKILLS

60% IN MALAYSIA 40% IN MALAYSIA
59% ACROSS ASIA 41% ACROSS ASIA

A degree (or other Critical thinking

academic qualification)

An industry
Interpersonal
specific certification

Computer
skills Verbal communication

Statistical analysis
and data mining Team working

Project
management Problem solving

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
MALAYSIA ASIA
MALAYSIA ASIA
ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
The World Economic Forum ‘The Future of Jobs 2018’ report
covered how today’s jobs are being transformed by the
introduction of new technologies

Industries with the most AI skills present in their workforce are

also the industries that are changing the fastest

How many hours outside of your job do you spend

enhancing your professional skills?

MALAYSIA ASIA

37% 1-2 hours 37% 1-2 hours

CONTRACTING AND TEMPING SOLUTIONS
CONTINUES TO BE
A DRIVING FORCE OF JOB CREATION
MALAYSIA ASIA

Regularly recruit Regularly recruit

27% temporary/contract
staff
33% temporary/contract
staff

Use of Use of
temporary/contract temporary/contract
26% staff to increase in the 25% staff to increase in the
next 12 months
next 12 months
FOREIGN EMPLOYEE NUMBERS
HAVE INCREASED IN BOTH
MALAYSIA AND ACROSS ASIA

MALAYSIA ASIA

13% 15%

2018 2018
+3% +2%
ANOTHER BRIGHT YEAR IN STORE
FOR MALAYSIA

Restructuring their department/organisation

72% to keep up with changing business needs

Expect the economy to strengthen – Up 16%

39% from predicated 2018 figure

Organisation’s activity levels to increase – Down

72% 1% from predicated 2018 figure

Will increase permanent staff levels in 2019 –

49% Up 8% from actual 2018 figure
MALAYSIA
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
ACCOUNTANCY & FINANCE
• Influx of SSCs to Malaysia leading to increased
demand for finance professionals in the accounts
payable, accounts receivable and general ledger
functions

• Growth of start-up scene also calls for the need to

build finance teams

• In re-examining operations processes, some

manufacturing firms require candidates who are
adept in ERP systems implementation and
migration

• Firms prepping for the move from cash-based

accounting standards to accrual by 2021
BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES
• Rising trend of banks acquiring business in the
SME banking sector is resulting in heightened
demand for sales managers

• Those in the corporate and commercial banking

sector can expect salary increments

• Critical talent shortage in niche roles in the Islamic

banking sector (e.g. Islamic Asset Management,
Product Development & Investment), as the Central
Bank pursues realisation of Malaysia as the hub for
global Islamic banking activities

• A recent report by Ernst & Young found that

66% of banks in Malaysia will reach digital
maturity by 2020
DIGITAL/INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
• While traditional programming languages continues to
be a much-needed skill, there is an increasing demand
for knowledge of newer back-end languages

• In view of rapidly changing technology and the

introduction of new product portfolios, functional SAP
consultants are highly sought-after

• Adoption of cloud-based infrastructure by firms is

requiring experts in cybersecurity

• Malaysia was ranked sixth on the Asian Digital

Transformation Index 2018. The Index analysed
countries according to their digital infrastructure,
human capital and industry connectivity
HUMAN RESOURCES

• The digital evolution of industries is driving demand

for learning and talent management professionals
in many industries

• Firms turning their focus to HR analytics in 2019,

thereby requiring talents in this area

• Urgent need for HRBPs in SMEs who are

experienced in internal processes

• Revealed earlier this year, the Human

Resources Ministry has set up an independent
committee to review the current threshold for
bringing in foreigners or expatriates working in
Malaysia
MANUFACTURING & OPERATIONS
• The industry is seeing persistent growth, and more so
in 2019

• In the semiconductor sector, candidates in R&D,

process and quality are highly coveted, and they
enjoy leverage when negotiating salary packages

• As it is a candidate market, employers should work

on implementing effective talent attraction strategies

• Based on the Ministry of Finance’s Economic

Report 2018/19, Malaysia is forecasted to have a
4.7% year-on-year growth this year in line with
the expansion of export-oriented industries such
as E&E, Automotive and Chemicals related sector
MARKETING & DIGITAL
• The adoption of new technological platforms is
requiring expertise in CRM, campaign analysis
and marketing analysis

• Performance marketers are also highly sought-

after as firms ramp up their digital marketing
efforts

• Malaysia is facing a dearth of all-rounded social

media experts

• The increase in data’s importance in the

creative process has sparked a cultural shift
in the creative industry
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
EMPLOYERS
• A happy workforce is a balancing act

• Attracting the best talent is a definite bonus

• Retain your ambitious employees with

counter-offers

• Improve, develop and promote your staff

• Broaden the skills in your organisation by

diversifying your workforce
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
EMPLOYEES
• Future-proof your position through upskilling

• Know your worth and ask for more

• Opportunity is out there, seek it out

• Temporary positions could bring you

permanent growth

• Performing for progression

OUR THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

GLOBAL RECRUITMENT 2018 DIVERSITY DNA OF A DNA OF AN HAYS

SKILLS INDEX REMODELLED & INCLUSION CFO HRD JOURNAL 16
REPORT
THANK YOU

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