Jobstreet: Firms still keen on hiring, job ads grew 33pc year-on-year

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — Jobstreet's data indicates the Malaysian job market remains resilient despite a global supply crisis, as businesses demonstrate a strong willingness to hire, according to the platform's statement. Job advertisements on its platform surged by 33 percent year-on-year, reflecting the active pursuit of talent across various sectors.

Nicholas Lam, managing director of Jobstreet by SEEK Malaysia, attributed this trend to continued hiring demand. The top industries for job ads were manufacturing, transport and logistics at 12 percent, accounting at 11 percent, sales at 10 percent, engineering at 9 percent, and administration and office support at 8 percent. Meanwhile, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reported that skill-related underemployment stood at 35.2 percent, highlighting a skills-matching challenge where jobs are available, but workers may lack the necessary skills for the growing demand.

Lam advised jobseekers to align their skills with industry needs while employers should clarify their skills requirements and consider alternative qualifications to expand their talent pool. The Malaysian labour force expanded by 0.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026, increasing to 17.28 million persons from 17.23 million in the previous quarter, with the labour force participation rate remaining steady at 70.9 percent.