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KUALA LUMPUR: The wholesale and retail trade sector reported the highest number of job vacancies in the first quarter of 2023 (1Q23) with a total of 35,956 vacancies, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM). 

This was followed by the manufacturing sector, with 21,499 vacancies, and professional, scientific, and technical activities sector with 13,852 vacancies.  

The financial and insurance activities sector, including takaful, also saw a significant number of job openings, totaling 13,326. 

Looking at job vacancies across the entire economic sector, DoSM said more than half were concentrated in the services sector, contributing 54.9 percent or 116,163 vacancies in 1Q23. 

Within the technical, vocational education and training (TVET) category, the most sought-after positions were found in the advertising and marketing field, with 17,409 job vacancies reported.  

Administrative associate professionals ranked second, with 8,261 vacancies, while software developers secured the third spot with 6,528 vacancies. 

In the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) category, technicians emerged as the most in-demand professionals, with 2,005 job vacancies.  

Project managers followed closely behind with 1,667 vacancies, and software engineers were also highly sought after, with 1,643 vacancies. 

Meanwhile, under the critical occupation list (COL), advertising and marketing professionals topped the list with a total of 17,409 vacancies. 

Managing directors and chief executives ranked second on the COL, with 9,335 vacancies, while accountants and auditors secured the third position with 8,605 vacancies. 

According to DoSM, the number of job vacancies advertised online posted an increase of 3.5 per cent in 1Q23 compared to 7.5 per cent in 4Q22 to record a total of 211,509 vacancies compared to 204,420 vacancies in 4Q22.  

On a year-on-year basis, the number of job vacancies registered a double digit growth of 32.9 per cent as against 7.3 per cent in 4Q22. 

Kuala Lumpur continued to record the highest job vacancies at 62,727.  

This was followed by Selangor and Johor which registered 39,990 and 12,150 vacancies respectively.  

Labuan recorded the lowest number of job vacancies with 125 advertisements.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/business/2023/06/921864/wholesale-and-retail-trade-sector-records%C2%A0highest-number-job-vacancies-1q23