KUALA LUMPUR: Entry-level hiring in Malaysia is gaining pace, but fresh graduates continue to face a disconnect between their expectations and what employers are prepared to offer.
Jobstreet by SEEK in Malaysia managing director Nicholas Lam said demand for junior roles remained robust and was concentrated in several key fields.
"The strongest demand is concentrated in accounting (12 per cent); administration and office support (11 per cent); sales (10 per cent); and engineering, manufacturing, transport and logistics (eight per cent).
"These five sectors make up the bulk of junior job vacancies, reflecting employers' need for operational support, technical manpower and frontline staff.
"Demand is driven by SME (small and medium enterprises) expansion, the shift towards service-led industries, employers' preference for trainable talent, and growth in technical and manufacturing activities," he told the New Straits Times.
Lam said entry-level hiring had strengthened over the past year, with junior postings rising 11.45 per cent year-on-year.
Growth, he said, was driven primarily by the expanding service economy, where hospitality and tourism rose by 44.2 per cent and trades and services by 47.8 per cent.
He added that demand for technical and vocational education and training (TVET)-related roles had grown 28.9 per cent, supported by the RM6.8 billion TVET allocation under the 2024 Budget and industry efforts to address skills shortages.
Manufacturing, transport and logistics also recorded strong 22 per cent growth due to continued investments and Malaysia's position as a regional supply-chain hub.
He said community services grew 41.18 per cent, while government and defence saw a 90.91 per cent increase, driven by demographic changes such as an ageing population and rising public-sector budgets in health, education and community support.
"Entry-level opportunities are broadening beyond corporate roles and increasingly shaped by economic recovery, vocational demand, demographic needs and public-sector expansion."
Lam said the main challenge was aligning graduate expectations with labour-market realities, particularly as many junior roles required physical presence rather than remote or hybrid arrangements.
"Graduates increasingly prefer hybrid or remote roles, while most entry-level positions in Malaysia, particularly in operational, customer-facing and technical fields, still require on-site presence.
"This gap is most evident in fast-growing sectors such as hospitality, logistics and trades, where hands-on training and physical operations are essential," he said.
The mismatch extended to compensation, he added.
"Compensation expectations also diverge. Our talent attraction lab found that candidates prioritise compensation and benefits, work-life balance and career development opportunities.
"However, starting salaries remain relatively stable, with a median minimum of RM2,800 across junior roles.
"In a rising cost-of-living environment, this contributes to a perceived mismatch or perception gap among new entrants who feel the pressure of costs rising faster than starting wages."
Across Jobstreet's 2025 entry-level postings, the median minimum salary is RM2,800.
Higher starting points are seen in information and communication technology (RM3,200-RM4,500), sales (RM3,000-RM4,500), real estate and property (RM3,000-RM4,300), and as legal, insurance, engineering, consulting and customer service roles (RM3,000-RM4,000).
Banking and financial services offer RM3,000-RM4,200.
Retail, trades and services, and hospitality and tourism remain on the lower end, reflecting sector norms and job nature.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/01/1348875/entry-level-jobs-rise-graduate-expectations-mismatched