Identifying Jobs on the Rise in Malaysia so that You Can Choose the Right Course

What are the Top 15 Jobs in Malaysia (Linkedin) in order to Choose the Best Course?

Written by EduSpiral Consultant Services. For more information contact 01111408838

• Digital skills are highly sought after in South East Asia
• Consumers in Southeast Asia have gone increasingly digital
• Brands have found new ways to connect with consumers, leading to a rise in demand for digital marketers and content creators
• E-commerce boomed in 2020, leading to a rise of various sectors
• Students need to look at new areas of study in degree programmes

Careers in health care, education and digital services are set to be among the fastest-growing in Southeast Asia in 2021. LinkedIn’s inaugural Jobs on the Rise report points to a surge in demand for medical professionals, teachers and creatives in 2021, as the coronavirus changes the face of the region’s jobs landscape. To be sure, the study — a special edition of the site’s annual emerging jobs report — also notes continued demand for technical specialists, such as data analysts and engineers.

The Linkedin report provides valuable information for Malaysian students after high school or Pre-University to consider in their decision-making process in choosing the course. Many students don’t take into account how technology has affected jobs and job functions and continue to choose traditional degree programmes that may not equip them with the knowledge and skills to be relevant when they graduate. This in turn will render these graduates obsolete and jobless.

The unemployment rate among fresh graduates increased to 25% in 2020. In comparison to 2019, it is a jump from 13.8%.

The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) said 75,000 out of 300,000 fresh graduates are expected to be unemployed in 2020 due to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, 41,161 out of 330,557 graduates from 2019 are still unemployed. With the addition of 75,000 from 2020, the total unemployment among the group will add up to a whopping 116,161 people.

Malaysian students simply listen to friends, parents, relatives, teachers, counselors and education agents providing them with information that’s not supported by facts or evidence in order to choose the right course.

What’s the point in spending thousands of Ringgit and 4 to 6 years of your life pursuing a degree programme that would allow you to graduate into a job that’s not in demand in the future? That’s an incredible waste of time and money.

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Do your Research Now Looking at Jobs on the Rise in Malaysia and Choose the Right Course

COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of digital platforms in the region. Technology has allowed people to work, stay connected to their loved ones and fulfil their daily needs like groceries, from the comfort of their own home.

In fact, 1 in 3 of digital service consumers in Southeast Asia were new to the service. And more importantly, 94% of these new digital users are likely to stick with the service moving forward.

As a result, we expect that the demand for workers with tech skills will remain, from specialised engineers, to cyber security talent and data analysts.

The world of work is in constant change. Email, video conferencing, and cloud sharing are now the norm and millions of people now work in the gig economy, rather than on structured payrolls. But perhaps the greatest debate about the future of work is centered on automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics, and their potential effects on jobs.

BETWEEN 3.3 million and 6 million jobs are expected to be created in Malaysia by 2030, but with the new age of automation Industrial 4.0, preparation and training are fast becoming the critical factor as the new workforce would need new skills.

Furthermore, the ever-increasing cost of living in Malaysia is making it challenging for fresh graduates and working professionals to support their lifestyle. In light of that, it would be important for students to plan ahead what career that you want to enter into so that you can choose a course that has future job demand and high salary in Malaysia.

Amid an age of automation, Malaysia’s jobs outlook is ultimately promising. But the future of work will also create new needs for skills and long-term learning in nearly every part of the workforce.

By having a view of emerging job trends, it is hoped that students would be inspired to draw up study plans and select career choices and pathways as early as schooling years up to university level that will ensure success in future careers and work environments. Success will come to those who prepare.

Increase in Demand for Malaysians with Digital Technology Skills

AS THE world has gone increasingly digital due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a rise in demand for jobs that require digital and soft skills and hiring patterns have shifted from focusing on credentials towards skill sets, a new study has found.

According to LinkedIn’s Jobs on The Rise in 2021 report, a major trend observed is that most roles may be conducted remotely, pointing towards the importance of being equipped with basic digital skills.

The report also noted that globally, remote job opportunities on LinkedIn have increased four times since June. Professionals with digital skill sets will find themselves at an advantage in seeking employment opportunities within these fields, it noted in a Shifting trends in jobs, recruitment: LinkedIn statement.

The rapid rate of digitalization — for instance the shift to online retail due to lockdowns — has opened up new roles in e-commerce and supply chain. Those trends, in turn, have led businesses to implement new digital technologies, resulting in a surge in demand for software and cybersecurity specialists.

By understanding what’s in demand in the workforce, students can prepare themselves by choosing courses related to the jobs that are in demand. The knowledge and skills through various degree courses such as Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, IoT, Cybersecurity, software engineering, AR/VR, digital marketing, eBusiness, mechatronic engineering and others can prepare themselves to take up these emerging roles when they graduate.

Besides this overarching trend, LinkedIn also identified the following sub-trends. They are:

1. Consumers in Southeast Asia have gone increasingly digital

During the pandemic, technology has allowed people to work and stay connected to their loved ones. One in three digital service consumers in Southeast Asia were new to the service. More importantly, 94% of these new digital users are likely to stick with the service moving forward.

LinkedIn expects that the demand for workers with tech skills will remain, from specialised engineers, to cyber security talent and data analysts. Other relevant jobs are: Data analyst roles, software and technology roles, cyber security roles, technology and engineering roles

2. Brands have found new ways to connect with consumers

The shift online throughout Southeast Asia has brought about an evolution in how brands communication with their consumers. LinkedIn’s data shows a 48% increase in companies posting on the platform in June 2020, compared to a year earlier.

This has led to growth in demand for digital marketers — professionals who seek to engage consumers effectively online, and digital content creators — those who are able to produce entertaining content across a range of channels. The relevant roles are: Digital content specialist roles, public relations roles, digital marketing specialist roles

3. E-commerce boomed in 2020, leading to a rise of various sectors

While online travel and transport services suffered in 2020, e-commerce, online media, online shopping and food delivery services surged.

The rise of e-commerce, for example, is fuelling more demand in logistics for warehouse skilled talent. These roles that may be filled by graduates in Logistics Management or Supply Chain Management. They will manage, maintain and execute the large supply chain network to ensure efficiency and cost savings.

In addition, eCommerce platforms require technologically skilled graduates in computer science to set up, maintain and protect the IT infrastructure. The platforms must be easy to use for the clients, safe and secure, and efficient from purchase to delivery of the products and services.

The relevant roles are: E-commerce roles, customer service roles, supply chain roles, business development and sales roles.

4. Traditional roles have changed, as a result of COVID-19

LinkedIn saw jobs that were traditionally conducted in-person evolve to be online in 2020. For example, we saw a growth in digital lending, education and health-tech services.

Those in these sectors need to have mastered the basics of technology, from communication tools, to social media platforms and basic office software. With these skills, workers will find that more opportunities will open up for them. The relevant roles are: Healthcare and medical support roles, healthcare and medical frontline roles, education roles, finance and insurance roles.

LinkedIn: 15 biggest career categories of 2021

The most in-demand positions, main skills required and major cities in South East Asia hiring for each role.

1. Data analyst

The rapid adoption of technology has allowed companies to collect large amounts of data, and with it, the potential to unlock new solutions and products. This has led to the demand in roles pertaining to processing, analysing and storing data.

• Top job roles: Business Operations Analyst, Business Development Analyst, Analysis Specialist, Business Analyst, Data analyst
• Skills required: Data analysis, data visualization, analytical skills, database programming language SQL, requirements analysis
• Where the jobs are: Jakarta, Indonesia; Bangkok, Thailand; Chachoengsao, Thailand; North Sumatra, Indonesia
• Top Degree Programmes: Data Science or Data Analytics

2 . Software & technology

Software and technology roles have long featured on the emerging jobs list, and it is likely we will see this trend continue. Companies are continuing to adopt new technologies, and this continues to drive demand for specialised engineering roles — from professionals who develop and adapt new software solutions to those who build websites.

• Top job roles: Web developer, system analyst, mobile application developer, full stack engineer, front-end developer, DevOps consultant who manages software development and IT operations
• Skills required: JavaScript, web development, Amazon Web Services (AWS), programming languages MySQL and HTML
• Where the jobs are: Bangkok, Thailand; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Singapore
• Top Degree Programmes: Computer Science,  Programming, Software Engineering, Information Technology (IT) or Information Communications Technology

3. Cyber security

Cyber security roles have been a mainstay of Southeast Asia’s emerging job lists, as both government and private enterprise invest heavily in securing data. From developing software to rebuff phishing, viruses and hackers, to tracking digital incursions, those working in cyber security roles offer a range of services to keep information and data safe. As more and more organisations and systems move online, this will become increasingly relevant and important.

• Top job roles: Cyber security analyst, Cyber Security Specialist, Cyber Security Consultant, Information Security Specialist
• Skills required: Penetration Testing, Information Security, Security Information and Event, Management (SIEM), Cybersecurity, Vulnerability Assessment
• Where the jobs are: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Singapore
• Top Degree Programmes: Cybersecurity, Computer Science or Software Engineering

4. Specialised engineering

By 2050, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to make up the fourth-largest economy in the world, fuelled by manufacturing, trade, and population growth.¹¹ The cities within these countries are rapidly developing and expanding, and are attracting foreign companies, talent and investment. Specialised engineers, equipped with the latest engineering software skills, will continue to be in demand as the region continues to grow.

• Top titles: Mechanical Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Engineering Team Lead
• Top skills: SOLIDWORKS, AutoCAD, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Structural Engineering
• Top locations: Jakarta, Indonesia; Bangkok, Thailand; Banten, Indonesia; West Java, Indonesia
• Top Degree Programmes: Mechatronic Engineering and Electrical & Electronic Engineering

5. Digital content Specialist

• Top job roles: Editor, copywriter, podcaster, YouTube content creator, video editor
• Skills required: Public speaking, proof reading, video editing, Adobe Premier Pro, creative writing
• Where the jobs are: Jakarta, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore
• Top Degree Programmes: Mass Communication, Film & Broadcasting or Digital Marketing

6. Digital marketing Specialist

• Top job roles: Social media manager, digital marketing specialist, social media marketing specialist, marketing analyst, Marketing Specialist
• Skills required: Social media marketing, copywriting, Google Analytics, lead generation, digital marketing
• Where the jobs are: Jakarta, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore
• Top Degree Programmes: Digital Marketing

7. Public relations

We saw that organisations needed to communicate quickly and clearly with customers, especially during the global pandemic. Behind the scenes was public relations teams, whose job was to ensure that the organisation expressed itself thoughtfully and constructively.

• Top titles: Public Relations Coordinator, Director Of Public Relations, Public Relations Specialist, Public Relations Manager, Public Relations Officer
• Top skills: Public Relations, Media Relations, Press Releases, Event Management, Social Media Marketing
• Top locations: Jakarta, Indonesia; Bandung, Indonesia; Denpasar, Indonesia; East Kalimantan, Indonesia; Surabaya, Indonesia
• Top Degree Programmes: Public Relations and Mass Communication

8. E-commerce

The adoption of online shopping accelerated during 2020, with the sector growing 63% to be worth US$62 billion in 2020.¹⁰ By 2025 it’s expected to be worth US$172 billion. This sector drives demand for professionals with a range of skills — including professionals who are adept at online marketing and search engine optimisation.

• Top job roles: Online specialist, e-commerce co-ordinator
• Skills required: Online marketing, e-commerce, search engine optimization (SEO) to help drive web traffic, Amazon Seller Central
• Where the jobs are: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Jakarta, Indonesia; Singapore
• Top Degree Programmes: eCommerce, eBusiness, Digital Marketing or Logistics Management

9. Business development and sales

Identifying new opportunities and understanding the evolving needs of their clients is key to any organisation’s growth and success. This is especially so for organisations that have seen an increase in demand of their products and services, due to the pandemic. As a result, we have seen these organisations expand their business development and sales capabilities.

• Top job roles: Sales specialist, account manager, account executive, business development specialist
• Skills required: Negotiation, account management, business development, business planning, lead generation to help attract consumer interest
• Where the jobs are: Jakarta, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore
• Top Degree Programmes: Marketing, International Business Management,  Business Administration or Business Management

10. Customer service

During the global pandemic, the customer service industry had to adapt. The sector now serves various purposes, not only reacting to customer feedback, but also proactively working with consumers to understand their changing needs. Professionals in customer service are now expected to conduct their work through digital or voice platforms.

• Top job roles: Customer service executive, customer support specialist, contact center specialist
• Skills required: Contact centers customer service, customer support, team leadership
• Where the jobs are: Jakarta, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Singapore
• Top Degree Programmes: Hotel Management

11. Supply chain

With the rise of e-commerce, we have seen a demand for professionals skilled in logistics and operations, as companies around the region ensure a smooth process for their consumers, from point of sale to door delivery.

• Top job roles: Distributor, logistics supervisor, operational specialist, logistics manager, Head Of Supply Chain Management
• Skills required: Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Warehouse Operations, Logistics Management, Inventory Management
• Top locations: Bangkok, Thailand; Manila, Philippines; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Top Degree Programmes: Logistics Management or Supply Chain Management

12. Health-care/medical support

Opportunities within the healthcare sector are abundant for people with a range of experience. Other than the traditional healthcare roles — like doctors, nurses, radiologists — we saw demand for other medical roles, like pharmacists and medical technologists.

• Top job roles: Medical technologist, pharmacy assistant, healthcare assistant, medical officer, medical specialist
• Skills required: Health care, medical assisting, pharmaceuticals, medical education, clinical research
• Where the jobs are: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore
• Top Degree Programmes: Nursing, Radiology, Medical Imaging, Pharmacy, Biomedical Science or Medical Lab Technology

13. Education

Education was another long-standing industry that saw great change as a result of COVID-19. As many countries around Southeast Asia went into lockdown, many educational institutions had to shift the curriculum online. It’s likely that this will continue post COVID-19, and as such, educators with digital skills and presence will have an edge in the industry.

• Top job roles: English second language teacher, Chinese teacher, academic tutor, information technology teacher, mathematics tutor
• Skills required: Educational leadership, curriculum development language teaching, English as a Second Language (ESL), tutoring
• Where the jobs are: West Java province, Indonesia; Manila, Philippines; Samut Songkhram, Thailand; Bangkok, Thailand
• Top Degree Programmes: Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

14. Finance & insurance

COVID-19 has brought about many changes to the finance and insurance industry. It has exacerbated the shift away from cash transactions (which typically takes place in-person), to digital payments that can be performed regardless of location or proximity. The Philippines, for example, recorded a 53% surge in monthly mobile banking app users. ⁹

• Top job roles: Financial advisor, accountant, financial planner, finance specialist, insurance agent
• Skills required: Financial planning, insurance, risk management, financial analysis, accounting
• Where the jobs are: Jakarta, Indonesia; Bangkok, Thailand; Manila, Philippines; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Singapore
• Top Degree Programmes: Banking & Finance, Finance, Financial Technology (Fintech), Accounting & Finance or Actuarial Science

15. Health-care/Medical frontline

As the nation responded to the threat of COVID-19, we saw frontline healthcare roles grow in demand. However, beyond the global pandemic, these roles are likely to remain on the rise.

• Top job roles: Medical doctor, general practitioner, medical officer, nurse, paramedic
• Skills required: Nursing, medicine, health care, Basic Life Support (BLS), emergency medicine
• Where the jobs are: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Riau Islands province, Indonesia; Singapore
• Top Degree Programmes: Nursing or MBBS

Jobs on the Rise in Malaysia 2021

Category	Specific Roles	Skills Required
Digital Content	Editor Copywriter Podcaster Youtuber Video Editor	Public Speaking Proofreading Video Editing Adobe Premiere Pro Creative Writing
Software & Technology	Web Developer System Analyst Mobile Application Developer Full Stack Engineer Frontend Developer DevOps Consultant	JavaScript Web Development Amazon Web Services (AWS) MySQL HTML5
Finance & Insurance	Financial Advisor Accountant Financial Planner Finance Specialist Insurance Agent	Financial Planning Insurance Risk Management Financial Analysis Accounting
Digital Marketing	Social Media Manager Digital Marketing Specialist Social Media Marketing Specialist Marketing Specialist Marketing Analyst	Social Media Marketing Copywriting Google Analytics Lead Generation Digital Marketing
E-commerce	Online Specialist Ecommerce Coordinator	Online Marketing Shopify E-commerce Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Amazon Seller Central
Business Development and Sales	Sales Specialist Account Manager Account Executive Business Development Specialist	Negotiation Account Management Business Development Business Planning Lead Generation
Healthcare/Medical Support	Medical Technologist Pharmacy Assistant Healthcare Assistant Medical Officer Medical Specialist	Healthcare Medical Assisting Pharmaceutics Medical Education Clinical Research
Customer Service	Customer Service Executive Customer Experience Manager Customer Support Specialist Contact Center Specialist Customer Service Team Lead	Contact Centers Customer Service Customer Experience Customer Support Team Leadership Technical Support
Healthcare/Medical Frontline	Medical Doctor General Practitioner Medical Officer Nurse Paramedic	Nursing Medicine Healthcare Basic Life Support (BLS) Emergency Medicine
Cyber Security Roles	Cyber Security Analyst Cyber Security Specialist Cyber Security Consultant Information Security Specialist	Penetration Testing Information Security Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessment
Supply Chain	Distributor Logistics Supervisor Operational Specialist Logistics Manager Head Of Supply Chain Management	Operations Management Supply Chain Management Warehouse Operations Logistics Management Inventory Management

 

How to Choose the Best Course to Study in Malaysia

It is important to choose the right course to study – you don’t want to waste your time and money on a course you don’t want to do (or end up dropping out of). To help you decide which course is right for you, make a list of courses that are of interest to you.

Looking at your results in SPM, IGCSE O-Levels or UEC could help you to decide which course you would be good at. If you are good in Maths & Physics then you can consider Engineering courses. Having good results in Chemistry, Biology & Maths, you can think of a career in Food Science, Pharmacy or Medicine. Talking to an experienced education advisor would help you to navigate through this confusing time of choosing the best course that fits you.

Many students after SPM or IGCSE O-Levels make the mistake of just listening to advise without verifying whether the information given is true or not. In addition, just because you have heard or seen a lot of advertisements by a particular university, doesn’t mean that it is the best in that course.

Many of the course counselors at the universities or education agents are paid by the universities to get you to register there, so their main motivation is to get you to register, not to help you make the right choice.

You should also ask yourself if you would still be interested in that subject for a further three or four years – enough to motivate yourself to work and research independently? Remember, you are going to work in this career for the next 50 years after graduation, therefore, you should have a high interest in the course.

The course that you choose should also have a job demand for you after you graduate. Choosing a course that you are passionate about without job demand and you may end up being jobless. Look for statistics and research to support whether there is a job demand for your future career in Malaysia or Singapore. Here at EduSpiral Consultant Services, we do our research on the job demand for the careers in Malaysia, Salary Reports, and universities so that we can advise our students based on facts and evidence.

Now why would you want to talk to EduSpiral Consultant Services when you can contact the private universities directly? Well, EduSpiral Consultant Services staff have more than 15 years experience in counseling students. Having worked in the private education industry, we have in-depth knowledge of each private university and college in what they are good at. We have worked with our partner universities and colleges for many years while the counselors at the private universities or agents’ offices change every few years therefore they would not have the in-depth knowledge of the courses and the university that they are working at.