Malaysia’s Top 10 Courses 2024 – High Job Demand & Salary

Ten Courses with Future Most In-Demand Jobs in Malaysia that You Should Consider Studying

When choosing the right course to study in Malaysia, one important criteria that students should look at is the job demand. Choosing to study a course that has future potential high job demand and salary would ensure that you have a higher chance of a successful career that would support your lifestyle goals.

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.

With the evolution of technology, the current job landscape in Malaysia has changed drastically. Technological forces will fundamentally change work and the economic landscape. In many industries and countries, the current in-demand occupations or specialties did not exist 10 or even 5 years ago. The rise of technology has led to a disruption in the way we work and live. The Digital Era has changed the way we work. Therefore, students must cultivate 21st century skills, capabilities and attributes to adapt to the technologically advanced workplace.

As the digital economy grows, Malaysians must be prepared to choose jobs that will be in demand in the future as well as still exist.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2023 has revealed that almost a quarter of jobs, or 23 per cent, are expected to change in the next five years via a 10.2 per cent growth in some jobs, and a 12.3 per cent decline in others as a result of technology and digitalisation. The report said that employers anticipate 69 million new jobs will be created and 83 million eliminated among the 673 million jobs corresponding to the dataset, a net decrease of 14 million jobs, or two per cent of current employment.

McKinsey says its study indicates that by 2030, automation could displace up to 25% of hours (equivalent to about 4.5 million workers) in Malaysia. However, 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.

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.

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. Students need to talk to the right education counsellors so that you get the right information to help you in making this life-changing decision and choose to study a course that has high job demand & salary.

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List of the Ten Best Courses in Malaysia with High Job Demand in the Future

Industry 4.0 is signalling a change in the traditional manufacturing landscape. What are the implications of these future trends to Malaysian students? You must start now to choose the right course that will be able to get you a job in the INR 4.0.

In recent years, the world has seen technology develop at an accelerated pace, ushering in a new world that calls for the acquirement of new skills. The impact of technology on jobs cannot be understated, with the rise of automation changing the way tasks are carried out, putting jobs in various industries at risk.

Many of the fastest growing jobs and predicted future ones are driven by technology development, increased Internet connectivity, rapid globalisation and new business demands.

Many Malaysian students are still choosing the traditional and outdated degree programmes that will not equip them to face the new technologically advanced work environment. These students will be jobless or possess skills that would not be relevant in the future jobs in Malaysia.

By having a view of emerging job trends, it is hoped that Malaysian students after secondary school would be inspired to draw up study plans and select career choices and pathways for their university studies that will ensure success in future careers and work environments.

What are the Top 10 Courses to Study that has Future High Job Demand?

1. Computing & Technology Courses

The Information and Technology (IT) industry continues to relish tremendous growth since the pandemic started. It is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Malaysian market to date. According to a report by GlobalData Market Opportunities Forecasts, the Malaysia ICT market size was valued at US$ 20.31 billion in 2022 and will grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.29% to reach a value of US$ 45.08 billion by 2027. The cumulative revenue generation for ICT providers in Malaysia is estimated at US$ 185.49 billion for 2022-2027..

The National Policy on Industry Revolution 4.0 (Industry4WRD), spearheaded by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), will play a vital role in promoting digitalisation across all sectors. Businesses are starting to pivot their operations to enable remote capabilities, no longer restricted to borders and time zone differences.

Many of the fastest growing jobs and predicted future ones are driven by technology development, increased Internet connectivity, rapid globalisation and new business demands. Tech skills are required in jobs across industries in different roles and functions and this is expected to create demand for tech-based or tech-related jobs.

Jobs like artificial intelligence specialists and data scientists are required across industries to help organisations and businesses be more efficient in delivering their products and services, and be more responsive to customer demands in anticipated increased competition.

According to Mordor Intelligence, the Malaysia Cybersecurity Market size is expected to grow from USD 0.95 billion in 2023 to USD 2.06 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 16.84% during the forecast period (2023-2028).In Malaysia, the vast majority of industries place high importance on cybersecurity. With an allocation of USD 434 million, the Government of Malaysia (GOM) developed the Malaysia Cyber Security Strategy (MCSS) 2020-2024 to improve the nation’s cybersecurity preparedness.

Furthermore, during the following five years, the MCSS identified five strategic pillars as guiding principles for enhancing the nation’s cybersecurity management. The first pillar aims to strengthen Malaysia’s vital ICT infrastructure while improving national governance and cybersecurity management. By examining pertinent legislation and creating new cybersecurity regulations, the second pillar seeks to improve existing cybersecurity laws. The remaining pillars include fostering innovation, developing Malaysia’s cybersecurity workforce, and utilizing local, regional, and global collaboration to safeguard cyberspace.

Despite the rapid industry growth, Malaysia still lags behind in cyber security talent pool development. Malaysia recorded a shortage of almost 8,000 cyber security professionals in 2020. Meanwhile, Malaysia Digital Economic Blueprint (MyDigital) has set a goal for the nation to produce 20,000 cyber security experts by 2025. As such, there will be a surge in demand for cyber security experts from security analysts and security architects, cyber threat intelligence analysts, consultants and cyber incident analysts.

Cybersecurity and data systems integration solutions are burgeoning. The essentialities of such services received acknowledgement by SMEs, and the adoption rate reflects the shift. And predictably, the top 10% of job opportunities in Malaysia are cybersecurity related. According to Ambition Market Insights 2024 report, there is a surge in demand for cybersecurity professionals following the announcement of the Malaysia Budget 2024, RM60 million has been allocated to CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) to develop a 5G cybersecurity testing framework and foster local expertise in 5G technology. This allocation is anticipated to drive an increased demand for cybersecurity professionals in 2024. A great number of companies are already adapting by establishing new positions to reinforce their existing cybersecurity teams.

In February 2021, the government launched its digital blueprint—MyDIGITAL, a roadmap that charts the path towards Malaysia’s vision of becoming a regional leader in the digital economy. Some of these initiatives include increasing the number of local data centres to provide high-end cloud computing services, rolling out 5G networks, and driving greater cybersecurity adoption. MyDIGITAL is expected to create 500,000 new job opportunities in the digital economy and, in effect, contribute 22.6% of Malaysia’s gross domestic product by 2030.

1. Cyber Security
2. Data Science
3. Artificial Intelligence (Ai) 
4. Robotics
5. Cloud Computing
6. Internet of Things (IoT)
7. Computer Science
8. Software Engineering or Programming
9. Information Technology (IT) or Information Communications Technology
10. Mobile Computing
11. Network Computing
12. Games Development

2. Accounting & Financial Services Courses

In today’s ever-changing world, banking and finance graduates are highly sought-after in a cross-section of Malaysia’s industries where each offer a variety of job opportunities.  The Financial sector stands as one of the largest sectors in Malaysia with more than 300,000 people employed. This sector is made up by professionals in the Accounting, Banking, Economics, Finance, Insurance and Statistics and Taxation sub-sectors.

An important industry for the country, it contributes up to 11 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).There are many areas in the banking and finance sector in Malaysia where each sub-sector requiring specific knowledge and skills.

“Banks and FIs are prioritising automation, digitalisation and
developing data-driven businesses. Many big banks are looking at how they can build sustainable financing into their long-term plans. Digital banks are poised for growth and will require innovative talent to join their workforce.

Traditional financial institutions increasingly recognise the need to incorporate more digital services to remain competitive in this new landscape. Malaysia’s fintech sector is driving demand for talent with e-money and blockchain experience.

Macroeconomic factors will continue to impact businesses and hiring activities. Increased
productivity will be a key focus. Talent with skill sets related to ESG, digitalisation and data remain in high demand.” (Page Insights Malaysia Salary Guide 2023)

As Malaysia’s economy progressively opens up and stabilises from the pandemic, roles within the Banking & Financial sector are rapidly evolving to keep pace with market and growth needs. Bank Negara, Malaysia’s central bank is set to issue its first digital banking licences in Q3 to Q4 2022, a move which is projected to accelerate the mushrooming of Fintech companies in the country.

Accordingly, demand for talent with cross-functional skill sets across finance and tech will rise rapidly as hiring activities increase. The ideal candidate would have experience in the audit, risk, or investment space as well as skills in data analytics and automation.

At the same time, there is also a growing awareness, especially among younger Malaysians, of tech-enabled financial tools such as digital wealth management platforms. As these tools and platforms become more prevalent, banks and financial institutions are progressively moving away from selling structured
products.

Fintech is another area that continues to experience significant growth due to changing consumer behaviour, movement control restrictions, and regulatory changes. According to the Fintech Malaysia Report 2021, online and mobile banking penetration reached 112.5% and 61.8% respectively, with more than 3 million new mobile banking service subscribers and 400,000 new businesses registering for QR code payment acceptance in 2020.

The key in succeeding in the banking & finance industry is choosing the right specialisation, and ensuring you find a career path that best match your abilities and interests. Therefore, having a finance qualification can lead to a rewarding career. A fast-track career in finance depends on a good understanding of market movements and the diverse investment market.

1. Accounting
2. Accounting & Finance
3. Actuarial Science
4. Banking & Finance
5. Finance
6. Financial Technology (Fintech)

3. Business Courses

In the World Economic Forum (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2023 shows the impact of the digitalisation of commerce and trade. Digital platforms and apps are the technologies most likely to be adopted by the organisations surveyed, with 86% of companies expecting to incorporate them into their operations in the next five years. E-commerce and digital trade are expected to be adopted by 75% of businesses.

E-commerce is seen as one of the bright spots driving Malaysia’s economic recovery, not just for its growing
popularity but also for its growth potential. Many brick and-mortar stores were able to continue their businesses throughout the lockdowns by taking them online. And with platforms like eBay, even micro, small, and medium businesses have a platform to compete in global markets.

As of Q2 2021, Malaysia’s e-commerce income grew 23.3% year-on-year, driven by the manufacturing and services sector. Total gross salaries paid within this sector also increased by 0.4%, equivalent to RM100.5 million.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reported a 23.1% year-on-year growth in e-commerce
in the first nine months of 2021. The market is expected to reach $12.6 billion by 2024, increasing at a
Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.3% between 2020 and 2024. In tandem with this trend,
the Malaysian logistics market is expected to have a CAGR of over 4% between 2022 and 2027

The e-commerce space is revelling positive growth amidst the pandemic. Retail sectors are occupying the e-commerce space while platforms such as Lazada and Shopee are booming. The government understands the merits of e-commerce enterprises. Thus, implementing various initiatives to strengthen Malaysia’s digital economy.

In addition, there is an allotment of RM300 million for the existing Penjana Micro & SMEs eCommerce, Penjana Shop Malaysia Online, Selangor e-Bazar and Buy Malaysia initiatives by the government encouraging consumers to shop online. As a result, more than 500,000 local SMEs will procure benefits from them.

As of 2020, 83% of the Malaysian population uses the internet, with ​​70% of them frequenting social networking apps, and 61% on shopping apps. On LinkedIn, there was a 63% increase in marketing jobs over the first six months of 2021. Marketing shifted even more significantly to digital channels. Digital marketing has become crucial for brands to reach these prospective customers, thus making roles under this industry highly demanded.

The roles under this umbrella consist of digital marketing specialists who are responsible for creating marketing campaigns and reporting results. Companies are also seeking out content creators for marketing purposes, whether it’s a writer or editor for written content, or a video producer or graphic design artist for visual content. And to ensure content is able to reach audiences, they need to be optimised for search engines like Google. This makes specialists in search engine optimisation (SEO) in demand.

Omnichannel selling, such as in-store, online, and through mobile apps is driven by today’s digital consumer who expects to be able to purchase products anytime, anywhere. Having good data analytics capability will be crucial to accurately track customer behaviour, channel performance as well as sales and market trends to raise efficiency and productivity.

A course that many students overlook is Human Resource Management. Human Resource professionals whose expertise lie in learning and development, talent management, change management and transformation are an extremely sought-after breed, and especially so if such talent possess digital adoption or digital project management experience to boot. The heightened need for greater tech-savvy HR professionals is accelerated by initiatives such as the Malaysian government’s announcement to pump US$720 million into its “Industry Digitalization Transformation Fund”, in its endeavours to enhance its digital economy. A significant US$50 million of which would be used to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their transition to Industry 4.0.

HR leaders who “lean into” new technologies, platforms, and ways of working will be strongly positioned to have an impact on business results and employee experience. The importance of the HR function to digitalise the modus operandi of businesses has never been more indisputable.

1. Digital Marketing
2. Marketing
3. Business Analytics
4. eBusiness
5. Human Resource Management (HRM)
6. Logistics Management
7. Supply Chain Management,

4. Engineering Courses

The world will always need engineers, but some specialized fields are growing faster than others. As the population ages, environmental policy changes, and automation takes over more and more aspects of manufacturing, the world needs qualified and experienced engineers to design, develop, test, and implement new strategies to meet the challenges of technological advancements.

Malaysia needs more engineers to help the country achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) to build a sustainable future, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) said.

According to the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), 187,900 engineers officially registered in the country in 2022, while the ratio of engineers to the country’s population was 1:170 compared to 1:100 for developed countries like Germany and France.

In order for the country to become a developed nation, the engineer to population ratio must be 1:100. For Malaysia, with a population of 32 million, the number of engineers should be 300,000. Surprisingly, based on the Education Ministry’s statistics from 1997 to 2020, the average number of engineers produced per year by the local institutions of higher learning, excluding graduates from international universities is about 16,000. The cumulative total of all engineers produced from 1997 to 2020 is estimated to be about 400,000. The number of engineers may be currently surplus for Malaysia.

Unfortunately, the reality is that only 35% of the graduate engineers (GE) registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). BEM is owned by the Malaysian government to administer the registration of PE. Although according to Malaysia’s law through the Registration of Engineers Act 1967 (Revised 2015), all practising engineers must be registered with the BEM as GE to work as an engineer legally. According to the statistic published by BEM in February 2020, only 10% out of 142,000 registered Graduate Engineer (GE) successfully obtained the certification as Professional Engineer, which is less than 4% of all engineers in Malaysia.

The surge in telecommunications and internet usage skyrocketed. Virtual meetings are the norm. Software such as Zoom and other communication platforms are now necessities. Wireless networks and fibre broadband are a must to keep operations and businesses running amidst this pandemic.

1. Electrical & Electronic Engineering
   • Malaysia remains a major player, cornering 13% market share in global chip testing and assembly. Over the past year, a total of RM52 billion in semiconductor investments have been secured, potentially creating 11,000 jobs in the sector. Rising industries that need a steady supply of chips are keeping demand strong. Where semiconductors are concerned, the automotive, data storage, and wireless sectors will drive at least 70% of the manufacturing industry (2023 Job Market & Salary Trends Malaysia – Randstad)
2. Mechanical Engineering
3. Mechatronic Engineering
4. In Malaysia, drones can inspect buildings and survey job sites, while 3D modelling visualises building projects so workers can virtually check construction progress without going on-site. Robotics like Boston Dynamic’s Spot will also gain more interest as companies seek greater efficiencies while protecting the health and safety of their workers in dangerous environments. (2023 Job Market & Salary Trends Malaysia – Randstad)
5. Telecommunications Engineering
6. Civil Engineering
   • The Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) Circle Line, the final piece to complete Kuala Lumpur’s urban rail network, will be fully operational by 2030.
   • Similar high-impact railway projects include the Light Rail Transit Line 3 (LRT3), which will connect two million people between Bandar Utama and Klang by 2024, extending rail connectivity to the Western Corridor of Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley.
   • On the other hand, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project will connect Kota Bharu in Kelantan to Port Klang in Selangor, linking the East and West Coasts of Peninsular Malaysia.
7. Petroleum Engineering
   • Outlined in the 2023 Budget, the government will allocate at least RM10 billion in funding to benefit the oil and gas, services, and equipment (OGSE) industry, with Pengerang given special status and incentives for its chemical and petrochemical activities. This will alleviate businesses’ cost pressures that were created by high inflation and oil price volatility. (2023 Job Market & Salary Trends Malaysia – Randstad)
8. Chemical Engineering
   • ‘Chemicals and chemical products’ is one of the six main new growth areas that the government has identified to accelerate Malaysia’s transformation into a high-income nation. The chemical industry makes up 10.5% of the local manufacturing sector and contributed 2.6% to Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021, equivalent to RM35.5 billion. (2023 Job Market & Salary Trends Malaysia – Randstad)

5. Humanities Courses

Although lawyers affect nearly every aspect of society in a range of positions and industries, their basic duties are the same–to represent the needs of their clients in civil and criminal trials. Lawyers can specialize in bankruptcy, international, elder, probate, or environmental law. The growing field of intellectual property is also seeing a growing level of attention from lawyers.

According to the lawyer statistical data from Malaysian Bar, the number of legal practitioners or lawyers in Malaysia had increased from 13,672 to 20,384 from year 2011 to year 2021. Amongst these 20,384 lawyers, 9,190 of them are male’s lawyers and 11,194 are female’s lawyers. Upon checking the Malaysian Bar website currently, it is stated that there are approximately 16,000 lawyers in Malaysia and the number is growing annually.

Lawyers are generally classified into four main types and they may specialize in any role such as:

• Civil law
• Criminal law
• Conveyancing lawyer / Real estate law
• Corporate law

According to the 2023 HAYS Asia Salary Guide the outlook for Malaysia’s legal market in 2023 is incredibly positive. A key focus across the industry will be on data privacy as concerns within this space grow. Consequently, 2023 will see strong demand for regional data privacy counsel and regional data privacy specialist roles. Corporate secretary opportunities will be plentiful within the corporate legal space as corporate governance becomes a strong focus across industries. Additionally, the large-scale merger and acquisitions activity in 2022 is also projected to continue in 2023 which calls for a steep demand for corporate lawyers within the Malaysian market.

As pressure to retain staff grows, most legal firms, especially top-tiered ones have embarked on revising and streamlining salaries according to their years of PQE (Post Qualified Experience). This move is intended to increase the transparency of general remuneration packages for practicing lawvers and is a trend that is likely to continue into 2023. In general, legal professionals are indicating a strong preference for flexibility, with most candidates choosing not to proceed with the job application process if the organisation does not support a hybrid working arrangement. The coming years will also see a greater focus on diversity, with local and MC organisations actively looking to hire more women.

1. Law

6. Communication & Social Science Courses

There were 33.03 million internet users in Malaysia at the start of 2023, when internet penetration stood at 96.8 percent. Malaysia was home to 26.80 million social media users in January 2023, equating to 78.5 percent of the total population. In addition, a total of 44.05 million cellular mobile connections were active in Malaysia in early 2023, with this figure equivalent to 129.1 percent of the total population.

Data from LinkedIn shows an astounding increase of 48% for more digital marketers and content creators. Digital marketing has become crucial for brands to reach these prospective customers, thus making roles under this industry highly demanded.

Existing jobs like content creators are now being taken to the next level and being given new dimensions by technology to reach a wider audience through multiple channels and platforms. Bloggers, podcasters, and YouTubers are in demand as companies look to create both tactical and strategic content that will help their customers make sense of the new and rapidly changing environment.

The roles under this umbrella consist of digital marketing specialists who are responsible for creating marketing campaigns and reporting results. Companies are also seeking out content creators for marketing purposes, whether it’s a writer or editor for written content, or a video producer or graphic design artist for visual content.

1. Mass Communication
2. Public Relations, Advertising & Brand Management
3. Film, TV, Video or Broadcasting
4. Psychology

7. Built Environment Courses

The 5-year centralised economic development plan, known as the Malaysia Plan, will be one of the keys to driving the construction sector up to pace again. The government has plans to expand and modernise the public infrastructures within the country. In December 2020, the government approved a 2021 budget worth RM322.5 billion (US$73.3 billion). 73.3% for operational expenditure, 21.4% towards development expenditure and the balance of 5.3% to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

As the East Coal Rail Line aims for completion in 2027, others projects continue to boost Malaysia’s construction sector. These include the Electrified Double Track Gemas-Johor Bahru, Klang Valley Double Track Phase 2, Pan Borneo Highway and Coastal Highway.

• The Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) Circle Line, the final piece to complete Kuala Lumpur’s urban rail network, will be fully operational by 2030.
• Similar high-impact railway projects include the Light Rail Transit Line 3 (LRT3), which will connect two million people between Bandar Utama and Klang by 2024, extending rail connectivity to the Western Corridor of Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley.
• On the other hand, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project will connect Kota Bharu in Kelantan to Port Klang in Selangor, linking the East and West Coasts of Peninsular Malaysia.

With projects underway, there is a surge in demand for skilled labour workers within the property and construction industry.

According to Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM), the construction industry currently faces a shortage of 550,000 workers.

1. Architecture
2. Interior Architecture
3. Quantity Survey (QS)

8. Hospitality & Tourism Courses

Over six decades, global tourism has experienced steady growth and has been seen as a powerful vehicle for economic benefit and job creation. In 2018, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reported that the tourism industry is one of the world’s largest economic sectors contributing 10.4 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) and creating more than 319 million jobs globally.

Travel is resuming after a 3-year hiatus from the COVID pandemic. During the pandemic, the hospitality and tourism industry was hardest hit and many left the industry to find jobs in other areas. This has created a huge vacuum and the demand for hospitality professionals will sky rocket in the coming years.

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s Economic Impact Report (EIR) released in 2022 reveals the Travel & Tourism sector is expected to create nearly 126 million new jobs within the next decade. The bullish forecast from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, also shows the sector will be a driving force of the global economic recovery, creating one in three of all new jobs.

In addition, Foundit Insights Tracker (FIT), which compiles a comprehensive monthly analysis of job posting activity across online recruitment platforms, said the hospitality sector in Malaysia has witnessed a 59% increase in hiring, compared with the same period last year. Jobs in the hospitality sector is set to increase, for example, IHG Hotels & Resorts plans to create more than 800 new jobs this year and double its estate in Malaysia by 2025.

These statistics provide a clear indication that the tourism industry holds promising prospects for those who intend to venture into this career path. As long as there is interest to explore places, be it physically or virtually, the promise of securing a job in this sector will always be available. Traditional and current, tourism career options range from working in hotels or resorts, cruise ships, adventure sports centers or even as tour guides leading activities and historical trips.

However, with the advancement in new technologies, tourism-related businesses need to transform the way they operate in order to utilize and adapt to the new emerging opportunities in the current Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0). Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Blockchain, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are among the emerging buzzwords in Tourism 4.0. These technologies help to unlock innovation and new potential in the tourism sector. With available data online, more personalized experiences will be created. This will create new markets for future tourism career growth. Online travel agents, tourism influencer marketers and niche tourism are among the disruptors that are expected to cater the demand of future tourism job vacancies.

1. Culinary Arts
2. Baking or Patisserie 
3. Events Management
4. Hotel Management

9. Health & Applied Science Courses

Malaysia’s changing demographics has become a significant contributor in the increased demand for healthcare services, according to a Fitch Solutions report.

In particular, its growing ageing population is expected to bring heightened demand due to a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in this age demographic. NCDs contributed up to 68% of the burden of premature deaths, majority of which occured in the 45-59 age group.

The report found that the proportion of the population aged 65 years and above has grown from 3.9% in 2000 to 5.1% in 2015, and it is estimated that the total elderly population in Malaysia will hit 2.4 million by the end of this year.

The country continuously faces a host of health-related issues that require active interventions from healthcare providers. The Ministry of Health is proactively addressing these challenges by enhancing healthcare facilities and services in the country by allocating appropriate resources to empower the public health delivery system.

As the pandemic continues to create uncertainty, health will continue to be a top priority in Malaysia. This means that medical professionals, especially nurses, will continue to be in high demand.

Hiring in healthcare and life sciences also rose, up 26 per cent in Q2 2021, and as reported in the Michael Page Malaysia Talent Trends 2021, the in-demand roles are radiographers, laboratory technologists, clinical research, specialist doctors, and research and development (R&D) scientists.

According to the Malaysian Physiotherapy Association, currently there is an estimated 2,759 practising physiotherapists in the country which is only 0.88 Per 10,000 population. Therefore, there is a demand for more qualified and trained Physiotherapists.

Finally, according to Malaysia Critical Occupation List 2022/2023, the food processing industry requires a range of technical and specialised skills to produce safe and high-quality food products. Specialised skills and knowledge in food safety, quality control, production processes are essential in the industry. However, there is a shortage of skilled and experienced personnel in the local food processing industry, especially for specialised roles such as quality assurance/control managers and food technologists.

1. Nursing
2. Physiotherapy
3. Food Science
4. Medical Lab Technology (MLT)
5. Biomedical Science
6. Medical Imaging

10. Design & Creative Content Courses

The rapid rate of digitalization — for example, the shift to online retail due to lockdowns — has opened up new roles in e-commerce with companies rushing to place creative ads on the various social media platforms. Those trends, in turn, have led businesses to implement new digital technologies, resulting in a surge in demand for creative designers especially in the digital area.

Many companies are tailoring advertising work to digital and direct mail in the hopes of reaching all the online shoppers at home. As companies battle to maintain brand dominance, creative firms and in-house departments are taking on additional projects, more qualified and trained creative talent are needed .

Malaysia’s rapidly maturing digital creative industry, which includes animation, movies, and video games, is proving to be a significant growth driver to the nation. In addition, a total of 35,000 jobs will be made available in the arts and creative industry through an allocation of RM100 million under the Pemulih programme announced by the Prime in June 2021.

MDEC, in its South-East Asia Animation Report 2018, said the region’s animation industry was forecast to be US$404.8bil in 2023. Based on the study by MDEC, the country’s creative content industry, which includes film and game developers, generated RM7.4bil in 2017, while in 2018, the animation export product value alone totalled RM146mil.

The industry has also created thousands of job opportunities. The report, released this year, said there were 100 animation companies in Malaysia while the whole national creative digital group totalled 350 companies. The country’s creative content works have been exported to 120 nations.

The next exceptional technology trend – Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), and Extended Reality (ER). VR immerses the user in an environment while AR enhances their environment. Although this technology trend has primarily been used for gaming thus far, it has also been used for training, as with VirtualShip, a simulation software used to train U.S. Navy, Army and Coast Guard ship captains. Around 14 million AR and VR devices were sold in 2019. The global AR and VR market is expected to grow to $209.2 billion by 2022, only creating more opportunities in the trending technology, and welcoming more professionals ready for this game-changing field.

There are many types of designers and roles that they do in a job. The demand for designers in Malaysia will depend on which type of design you specialise in.

1. Animation
2. Graphic Design
3. Interior Design
4. Multimedia Design
5. Visual Effects
6. Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR)
7. Game Design

11. Education

The number of teaching opportunities at Malaysian international schools climbed 36 per cent in 2022, although the number of applicants decreased. According to the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), there are insufficient teachers to match the demand. Furthermore, UNESCO announced in 2016 that 69 million new teachers would be needed by 2030 to meet the population increase demands.

The Education Ministry in 2019 reported a shortage of teachers due to an array of unforeseen circumstances such as “such as optional retirement, death, half-pay and no-pay leave exceeding one year, courses exceeding one year, discontinued services and resignations.”

The Ministry of Education (MOE) needs a number of teachers for certain subjects, but the supply (of teachers) available for these subjects is very limited. The subjects most affected by the subject-teacher mismatch are English, Bahasa Melayu, Islamic Education, Special Education, Religious Education, and History. The teachers’ starting salary ranges from 2,018 to 3,040 MYR ($485 to $730 US) per month, depending on their qualifications.

Education graduates could also find work at international schools, home schools or at private universities. Pursuing the Masters and PhD will increase your career mobility where you could become a Principal or Professor or Dean.

1. Education
2. Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)
3. Early Childhood Education

Students May Be Unemployed  If You Choose a Course that would not be Relevant in the Future

The unemployment rate among Malaysia’s fresh graduates is expected to increase to 25% this year, 2020. In comparison to last year, 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.

Last year, 189,543 out of 330,557 graduates managed to get a job six months after they graduated.

The youth unemployment in Malaysia is at 13.2%. The highest unemployment rate is seen among those aged 15 to 19, at 18.7%, followed by those aged 20 to 24, at 11.9%, according to the Economic Outlook Report 2019 issued by the finance ministry.

Graduates being left behind, possess outdated information and lacking in relevant skills required by the industry, thus contributing to the rising unemployment rate. Therefore, if you don’t plan carefully, you may end up studying a course that has no job demand after you graduate. This would be an incredible waste of your time and money.

Look at Job Demand and Trends in Malaysia when Choosing your Course

When choosing a course, it is important for students to look at the job demand to ensure that there would be a job when they graduate. In addition, check out the salary so that you know that the career that you are planning to choose can sustain your future lifestyle.

Traditionally prestigious professions still have it – those in these jobs remain sought-after today, although their counterparts in the digital industry are in high demand. Despite talk of oversupply, medical specialists, accountants, engineers, architects, pharmacists and dentists are still much needed in Malaysia.

These professionals are crucial for Malaysia to achieve developed nation status. These roles are important in ensuring affordable, quality service, especially healthcare, for the people. On the other hand, the manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and finance and insurance sectors may have too many workers.

Thanks to disruptive technology and the challenging economy, these industries (which were last year’s top retrenched fields) continue to see an oversupply of workers. There are also too many general practitioners, especially in urban areas.

Critical Occupations List (COL)

The Critical Occupations List 2019/2020, which covers 18 key sectors in the country, underscores the need for accountants, engineers, software engineers, ICT professionals and tertiary level educators.

Malaysia’s Human Resources Ministry advised graduates entering the job market to study employment trends. Those thinking of manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and finance and insurance, should know that these sectors topped the retrenchment list last year, it said.

WHILE software developer, recruiter, database developer, information security specialist, data analyst, corporate tax specialist, payroll specialist, business intelligence consultant, regulatory specialist and marketing research specialist, are LinkedIn’s “top 10” most-in-demand talents, those interested in traditionally-popular fields also have reason to be optimistic. Many crucial areas like medicine, engineering and accounting, are still thriving in Malaysia.

And, according to Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, the sales and marketing, hospitality, food and beverage line, are also hiring. He, however, says job seekers are reluctant to enter the sales and marketing profession, viewing the job as too demanding, especially with the need for English proficiency.

Multilingual talents for contact centres and customer service roles are also much-sought after, as are Human Resource professionals to help companies map long-term growth plans, he says. Meanwhile, companies involved in ICT, IT-enabled services and business process outsourcing, education and manufacturing, will continue filling key positions.

Industrial Revolution (INR) 4.0 – Top Courses that You Should Study in Malaysia to be Ready for it

In order to be successful in your future career, students need to plan ahead and find out which jobs would be in demand and be relevant. The Industrial Revolution 4.0 has impacted many jobs and rapidly transformed the future of jobs.

Industry 4.0 is signalling a change in the traditional manufacturing landscape. Also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Industry 4.0 encompasses three technological trends driving this transformation: connectivity, intelligence and flexible automation.

Industry 4.0 converges IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology), to create a cyber-physical environment. This convergence has been made possible thanks to the emergence of digital solutions and advanced technologies, which are often associated with Industry 4.0.

These technologies are helping to drive manufacturing’s digital transformation through the integration of previously disparate systems and processes through interconnected computer systems across the value and supply chain.

Embracing Industry 4.0, digital manufacturing and the interconnectivity that comes with it opens a myriad of benefits for companies, including greater agility, flexibility and operational performance.

What are the implications of these future trends for key aspects of the future workforce and workplace that would concern you as a student? To address this question, we take a closer look at the major factors that are expected to shape the world of work in the coming decades so that you can be prepared by choosing the right course to study so that you will be prepared for a career in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 in Malaysia and globally.

In doing so, our objective is not so much to predict the future but rather to understand what are the changes that technology is impacting jobs of the future. When we understand the future trends, we will know which courses to choose that will enable us to hone our skills to obtain a job that has high demand and salary.

How to Choose the Best Course to Study at the Top Private University 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 or IGCSE 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 high school 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 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.

How to Choose the Right Course to Study in Malaysia?

It can be confusing for students to choose the right major for their undergraduate degree studies in Malaysia. Preparations should have been made even before this time but fear not it is still not too late if you have not decided on a career path. It is important for you to research carefully the career that you intend to pursue.

Students after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels would need to go through some sort of a Pre-University programme before entering into the degree course. Therefore, you still have about 1 to 1.5 years in your Pre-U programme to really figure out what to study for your degree.

It can be confusing to choose the right course. You should carefully think about what are the options available to you. To choose the best course that fits you, you need to consider the following:

• Look at your results – what are your best & worst subjects, and which subjects are your favourite?
• What are your interests & hobbies?
• What is your passion?
• Job demand for the career of choice. There is no point in choosing a course out of passion and then graduate to find out that you cannot get a job in that field.
• Salary of the career of choice
• Discuss the budget for your studies with your parents. There is no point in choosing a course like Pharmacy or Medicine, if you cannot afford it.

Have You Chosen the Right University to Equip You with Future Skills?

With the evolution of technology, the current job landscape in Malaysia has changed drastically. In many industries and countries, the current in-demand occupations or specialties did not exist 10 or even five years ago. The rise of technology has led to a disruption in the way we work and live. The Digital Era has changed the way we work.

Malaysia government’s focus was also in line with its efforts to meet the challenges of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) that requires highly skilled human capital. Therefore, students have to keep in mind whether the university that you have chosen will equip you to face the challenges of a technologically advanced future work environment?

Many students do not give much thought in choosing their university. They just assume that the cheapest, nearest and most convenient university will do. This is a wrong assumption and if you don’t choose the right university with the environment that will enhance your skills, you won’t do well in your future career.

In addition, employers are also seeking candidates with a whole new set of soft skills that are suitable for the new normal. Communication skills and work attitude are some of the important factors that companies look into when hiring a candidate. It’s not always about the technical skills; soft skills matter as well. Therefore, the university that you choose will have an impact on equipping you with these necessary skills.

Having a degree without the right job skills will make you unprepared to perform your job well, hence have less opportunities to advance in your career and continually have low salary.

Ask a Knowledgeable & Experienced Education Consultant in Malaysia to Help you Choose a Top Course to Study

Choosing a course to study  is not a science, it is a process in finding out who you are and what you are good at. An experienced Education Advisor would be invaluable in assisting you to choose the right course. Students need to talk to the right education counselors so that you get the right information to help you in making this life-changing decision.

Ask the right Education Counselors. Would you ask a Doctor on how to repair your car? Or would you ask a mechanic for medical advise? Although this sounds ridiculous, but many students do listen to advise from young and inexperienced counselors from universities, colleges or agents’ offices.  Talking to an experienced education advisor would help you to navigate through this confusing time of choosing the best course that fits you.

Experienced education counselors are able to analyse your interests, personality and exam results to help you make a list of possible courses for consideration. 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.

EduSpiral Consultant Services has 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.