High Job Demand for Qualified Top Engineers in Malaysia
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Demand for qualified engineers in Malaysia is increasing. In order to succeed in the engineering field, students must choose a university that has the experience and facilities to equip them. In addition, soft skills such as an English speaking environment, leadership skills, communication skills and internship programs will help the graduate stand out and be very successful.
Research has shown that graduates with a good command of English has a 25% higher salary than those who don’t. In addition, choose universities where the engineering degrees are accredited by MQA and the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM).
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Increased Job Demand for Engineers in Malaysia
One of the top engineering nations is the world, Germany has an estimated 1 million engineers for a population of 82 million (engineer:population ratio of 1:82). France has an estimated 800,000 for a population of 60 million (engineer:population ratio of 1:75). At present, the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) has a total register of 52,000 graduate and professional engineers.
Considering that a large number of engineers in Malaysia are not registered with BEM (around 50%), it is estimated that there are around 80,000 engineers currently in employment, i.e. still registering a very poor engineer:population ratio of 1:312 (assuming a current national population of 25 million).
Table shows engineer-population ratios for Malaysia and several advanced countries.
| Country | Population | Estimated number of Engineers | Engineer to Population ratio |
| Malaysia | 25 million | 80,000 | 1:312 |
| France | 60 million | 800,000 | 1:75 |
| Germany | 82 million | 1,000,000 | 1:82 |
| Canada | 30 million | 250,000 | 1:120 |
| United Kingdom | 60 million | 425,000 | 1:141 |
Therefore it is important for Malaysia to increase her production of engineers at a very significant rate in order to achieve a comparable index with the developed nations. If we were to use the “advanced nation benchmark” the engineer:population ratio of 1:100 would mean that Malaysia would need around 275,000 and 300,000 engineers in 5 and 10 years respectively (assuming population growth at 2% per year).
It is noted that in the Ninth Malaysia Plan presented by the Prime Minister of Malaysia in March 2006, the government plans to increase engineering student enrolment for public and private universities with the target annual growth rate of 12.2% and 20.8% respectively (Malaysia 2006a). In 2006, an estimated 10,571 students entered first year engineering studies in public and private universities.
Therefore with the expected growth, the government is projecting that more than 77,000 and 222,000 engineering graduates will be produced altogether from all the Malaysian universities in the next 5 and 10 years respectively.
If this projection is met, even after accounting for retirements, Malaysia will be able to match engineer:population ratios with those of advanced nations within 10 years
Engineering Fields that are high in demand in Malaysia
In a 2006 Report by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, Mechanical engineering is viewed as the field of engineering most highly demanded in the future with a projected increase of 24% from 5 to 10 years (from an estimated number of engineers of 58000 to 72000).
About 8% of the respondents indicated a demand for other engineering fields, such as biomedical, computer engineering,
instrumentation and technology, marine technology, mechatronic, software engineering and process engineering.
According to the report, the demand is highest for: Mechanical Engineers, next is Electrical, Civil, Electronic and finally Chemical.
Salary for engineers in Malaysia
The average annual salary for an engineer in 2009 is RM90,744.
Shortage of Qualified Engineers in Malaysia
There is a shortage of qualified engineers in Malaysia suitable for the crucial role of overseeing construction projects and infrastructure development works, according to the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM).
IEM president Datuk Lim Chow Hock told StarBiz that there were only about 150,000 experienced engineers in Malaysia.
“We are still short of 50,000 to meet the requirement in the construction and infrastructure sectors. The experienced engineers are needed in the consultation and management departments,” he said. Lim added that the demand for consultation and management engineers for government construction and infrastructure projects would mitigate the impact of the slowdown taking place in the construction industry.
“About 70% of our members are engineers in the development and construction sectors. “They can easily be reabsorbed to play consultation and management roles for government projects,” he said.
Lim added that about 30% of the members were involved in the electrical, electronic, and mechanical engineering industries. The IEM currently has about 43,000 members.
On the quality of the local engineering graduates, Lim said that there was concern on quality because a study done three years ago by IEM revealed that the local engineering graduates lacked certain fundamental understanding of engineering principles. “This is affecting their ability to execute their duties effectively.
This was the feedback from 11/11/2015 Malaysia short of 50,000 experienced engineers Business News | The Star Online
Job Prospects for Engineers in Malaysia
After chatting with EduSpiral on Facebook, I got a clearer picture of which university to choose that would best fit me.
Zhi Sheng, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
In the Third Outline Perspective Plan and the Eighth Malaysia plan, it is estimated that there will be a high demand for engineers where there are estimated 230,000 engineers and technicians for the year 2000 and the projected figure for 2010 is 470,000. (Source OPP3/8MP/EPU). Engineering is a respected profession that pays well. On average, people who graduate with a degree in engineering earn higher salaries than those with other bachelor’s degrees. Studies indicate that there will be a shortage of engineers well into the 21st century.
Furthermore, choose top private universities in Malaysia where the engineering degrees are accredited by MQA and the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). Currently, according to BEM there are 11010 Professional Engineers and 81771 Graduate Engineers in Malaysia. Malaysia needs around 275,000 and 300,000 engineers in 5 and 10 years respectively.
In a 2006 Report by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, Mechanical engineering is viewed as the field of engineering most highly demanded in the future with a projected increase of 24% from 5 to 10 years (from an estimated number of engineers of 58000 to 72000).
About 8% of the respondents indicated a demand for other engineering fields, such as biomedical, computer engineering, instrumentation and technology, marine technology, mechatronic, software engineering and process engineering. According to the report, the demand is highest for: Mechanical Engineers, next is Electrical, Civil, Electronic and finally Chemical.
Malaysia needs more than 1,000 engineers annually to meet industry demands, said Talent Corporation Malaysia (TalentCorp). TalentCorp CEO Johan Mahmood Merican said engineers in the electric and electronic (E&E) and oil and gas (O&G) sectors are highly sought after.
“The industry is hungry for engineers,” he said after opening the Sector Focus Career Fair 2014 at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) campus here.
Mirroring Johan Mahmood’s assessment was Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Industry Talent Management Division director Mohamad Ismail Abu Bakar. He said there was a need for expertise in electric and electronic (E&E) , oil and gas (O&G), mechanical engineering and chemical engineering.
“This is based on the type of projects MIDA has approved for investments coming in,” he said.
Engineering Jobs in Demand in Malaysia Developed by the National Key Economic Activities (NKEAs)
The NEAC will work with PEMANDU to develop the National Key Economic Activities (NKEAs) in the following areas:
- Electrical and Electronic, where manufacturing, research and development as well as design for Malaysian companies driving innovation will be focused upon.
- Oil and gas sector led by a well developed pool of local talent and companies that are able to compete globally.
- Green industries and services. Expertise in complex manufacturing and those in the solar and alternative energy sectors will be much sought after alongside those involved in the commercialisation of natural bio-diversity into high value products.
Electrical and electronics engineers form the core of various technology-ledcompanies in Malaysia.
In a report conducted by IPSOS Business Consulting in 2012 on the E&E Sector Study on the Supply-Demand of Talent in Malaysia, it is found that there is a shortage of Electrical & Electronic Engineers in Malaysia.
The E&E sector is an important contributor to Malaysia’s economy as it is one of the 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) in the country’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). There are 1,900 active E&E companies which provide employment to over 350,000 people.
The report found that Fresh Graduates or Entry-level Talent Not Industry-Ready (lacks required skill-sets) therefore choosing a university that can provide the necessary industry relevant teaching and training is imperative.
Furthermore, Electrical and electronics engineers who possess solid analytical and communication skills will have a clear advantage over the others.
Telecommunication is the means of communicating through the transmission of signals. In today’s world, it is all around us – from 4G connectivity to streaming videos to mobile downloads, and so on.
The IPSOS report identified eight key talent shortage areas in the E&E field and one of the areas in demand for Telecommunications Engineers. They are responsible for the analysis, design, implementation, optimization and enhancement of wireless telecommunications products and networks.
Top Oil & Gas jobs in demand in Malaysia according to Hays Quarterly Hotspots
Exploration Geologists, Development Geologists, and Reservoir and PetroleumEngineers – A shortage of qualified talent exists in these areas and as such competition is fierce. Strong local candidates with eight or more years of experience are very much in demand.
Lead Process Engineers, Engineering Managers, Lead Mechanical Engineers, Control & Instrumentation Engineers and Project Managers – Employers have won projects and now need to hire these professionals. In most demand are candidates with offshore projects experience or FPSO projects experience. Employers also expect that such talent will have experience working in a multicultural team.
Trends
Operating companies are going through the planning process for 2014. The expectation is that a number of junior level positions will be created in the large established operators that are looking to build a good pipeline of home-grown local talent. These jobs will typically range from fresh graduate positions to roles suitable for candidates with three to four years of experience.
The policy of Malaysianisation will continue this year. Yet a skill shortage exists across the board, particularly for more experienced candidates with eight or more years of experience. Candidates with niche experience also continue to be in demand.
Engineering Jobs in Demand in Malaysia according to Institute of Labour Market Information & Analysis
EPCM contractors, specialist contractors and subsea EPCM contractors have prepared their hiring plans for 2014. Mid-level and senior candidates will be in demand from March onwards.
Again, local talent is preferred for short-term immediate contract positions.
The Institute for Labour Market Information and Analysis (ILMIA), a division of the Ministry of Human Resources was set up in May 2012.
As Malaysia’s leading labour information centre, it provides the analysis of labour market trends and emerging human capital issues for enabling human capital planning and labour policies formulation
The report is taken from ILMIA’s website.
| Sector | Sub-Sector | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL & ELCTRONICS | – | IC Design Engineer |
| Firmware Engineer | ||
| RF Engineer | ||
| Software Engineer | ||
| Media Process Engineer | ||
| Wafer Fabrication Engineer | ||
| Test Measurement Engineer | ||
| Product Design Engineer |
| Sector | Sub-Sector | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| OIL & GAS | – | Chemical Engineer |
| Petroleum Engineer | ||
| Mechanical Engineer | ||
| Electrical Instumentation Engineer | ||
| Geoscientist | ||
| Health, Safety & Environment | ||
| Civil & Structural Engineer | ||
| Materials & Metallurgical Engineer | ||
| Mechanical Technician | ||
| Electrical Technician |
Engineering is one of the Top Paid Salaries in Malaysia (per month basis) as listed by Kelly Services Malaysia
According to the Kelly Services 2014/2015 Malaysia Salary Guide , “the skilled talent pool in Malaysia is at 27 percent – far off from the estimated requirement of 45 percent to meet the national agenda of a high income nation by 2020.”
The Malaysia Salary Guide also lists down a whole number of jobs with an indication of what the average salary range should be, according to placements made by Kelly Services Malaysia.
Another high-paying industry is engineering, with engineering managers of 8-12 years of experience earning a minimum of RM13,000 and a maximum of RM22,000. Utilities managers, another high-paying position can earn a minimum of RM16,000 and a maximum of RM21,000.
Top Ten highest paying jobs in Malaysia according to Jobstreet
According to Jobstreet, a petroleum engineer earns between RM 37,094 – RM 365,156 a year.
In positioning Malaysia as the leading oil and gas (O&G) hub in the Asia-Pacific region by 2017, Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corp (MPRC) was formed to promote, catalyse and transform the sector.
Notable projects in the O&G (oil and gas) sector include the RM60bil Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development project in Pengerang, Johor, and the RM3.8bil Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal in Kimanis.
Top Ten highest paying jobs in Malaysia at Manager Level according to Jobstreet
Doctors, engineers and managers in the aviation specializations draw the highest pay with doctors earning the highest, with an average salary of RM9,500 per month.
- Doctor RM9,530
- Engineering – Oil/Gas RM9,462
- Aviation RM9,406
- Audit/Taxation RM9,226
- Banking – Financial Services RM9,100
- Geophysics RM8,938
- Publishing or Printing RM8,650
- Engineering – Chemical RM8,545
- Engineering – Electronics RM8,146
- IT – Software RM8,112
Top Ten highest paying jobs in Malaysia at Senior Manager Level according to Jobstreet
The Average Salary Of SENIOR MANAGERS Is RM12,800 Across All Industries. It takes years of experience and expertise before one becomes a senior manager, but all that hard work pays off.
Overall, senior managers in specializations such as IT– Hardware, Quality Control/Assurance and Geophysics are the top highest paying job in this position.
- IT – Hardware RM18,100
- Quality Control/Assurance RM17,768
- Geophysics RM17,500
- Property/Real Estate RM16,917
- Engineering – Electrical RM16,503
- Publishing/Printing RM16,500
- Corporate Strategy RM15,606
- Engineering Oil/Gas RM15,307
- Sales – Corporate RM14,815
- Engineering – Civil RM14,768
