A report by jobs and talent platform foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME) finds that digital adoption shapes the changing employment landscape across the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore. Other factors were workplace dynamics and shifting compensation strategies.
”Overall, businesses that strike a balance between technology-driven strategies and employee well-being will be best positioned to navigate these shifts and sustain long-term growth,” V Suresh, CEO of foundit, said.
Hiring trends
In the hospitality sector, Malaysia’s 42% YoY growth in recruitment was driven by substantial investments, visa-free policies and spending on digital advertising across borders made by the Malaysian government.
Growing infrastructural investments, rising tourism, and smart hospitality technology facilitated the Philippines’ 30% growth. Meanwhile, Singapore’s hospitality industry saw a 15% decline in recruitment annually, which could be attributed to limited promotional initiatives, tighter visa norms, and AI and automation-related workforce shifts.
Malaysia experienced a remarkable 25% annual increase in roles across software, hardware, and telecom, reflecting the high demand for AI, machine learning, and cloud computing experts. In contrast, Singapore faced a sharp 45% decline in tech roles, and the Philippines saw a -8% YoY.
Digital campaigns, social media growth, SEO and SEM, and expanding e-commerce technology shaped the hiring surge in the marketing and communications industry in the Philippines (43%) and Malaysia (36%). However, with reduced budgets for traditional marketing roles, Singapore saw a significant 9% decline in recruitment in this industry.
HR and administration roles in the Philippines saw a substantial 47% growth as companies looked to HR to manage workforce growth, streamline operations, and enhance employee engagement. HR roles in Malaysia grew by 28%. However, Singapore’s recruitment declined by 12% due to shifts towards automation and outsourcing administrative functions to optimise costs.
