PETALING JAYA: Most employers in Malaysia expect business activity levels to increase in the next 12 months, based on findings of the Hays Asia Salary Guide 2022.

       Hays, a specialist recruitment company, noted that 74% of employers in the country believe business activity would increase in 2022, which is the highest in the region.

       It said fewer hiring freezes were also reported for the year, with 75% of employers saying none have been planned.

       Last year, nearly half of the employers surveyed said they had initiated a hiring freeze at their organisations.

       Now in its 15th edition, the guide compiles and presents salary and sector overviews based on real data and a survey of skilled professionals across China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. Over 9,500 responses were collected between October and November 2021.

       Tom Osborne, managing director of Hays Malaysia, said in a statement: “The pandemic has severely impacted business activity across various sectors over the last two years.

       “Fortunately, the Malaysian economy is now on the road to recovery and despite ongoing challenges, we see a growing optimism among employers.”

       Accordingly, half of the employers surveyed planned to increase their permanent headcount in the next 12 months and are putting in place candidate attraction tactics, such as increasing compensation.

       Along with China, employers in Malaysia are planning for larger salary increments at an average of between 3% and 6%. Average increments for all other regions are expected to peak at 3%.

       Osborne added: “While job seekers are prioritising compensation after two years of suppressed wages, employers should be aware of the fact that there are other factors that would come into play.

       “Seeking new challenges, better healthcare insurance and allowance, as well as career progression were all top motivators for Malaysians looking to change jobs.”

       For jobseekers, he emphasised the importance of skills development.

       “Employer responses tell us that they value technical, analytical and management skills highly, alongside soft skills like communications skills, problem solving skills and teamwork. Candidates who focus on developing such skills will certainly see an advantage in securing a role,” Osborne noted.