KELLY SERVICES PROJECTS CONTINUED TALENT DEMAND IN GROWTH SECTORS FOR 2011/2012
15% to 20% Salary Increase In Selected Industries
Kuala Lumpur, June 30, 2011 – Kelly Services (M) Sdn. Bhd. (Kelly Malaysia) today launched its annual Employment Outlook and Salary Guide 2011/12 (Kelly Salary Guide), a comprehensive reference tool on salary trends, job titles and employment outlook across industries within the Malaysian marketplace.
The Kelly Employment Outlook and Salary Guide 2011/2012 presented an optimistic outlook on the job market despite ongoing scarcity due to talent migration. Presenting key findings at the launch, Ms. Melissa Norman, Managing Director, Kelly Singapore and Malaysia said, “We have seen an outflow of skilled talent to regional countries; however talent mobility is also taking place within Malaysia with talents increasingly willing to switch jobs. We are also noticing that employers are willing to pay higher salaries for talent who can ‘hit the ground running’ and require minimal training. The demand of talent has become more apparent in growing areas of the economy, especially the Banking and Financial, Services, IT and Engineering industries.
The Kelly Salary Guide indicated that as Malaysia has become a key banking and financial hub of Asia, the need for specialised talent in this sector has intensified, particularly in Islamic Finance. With noticeable increase in demand for talent, banks have also increased management trainee programmes targeting fresh graduates. Salaries for mid to senior level managerial roles with 7-10 years industry experience increased by 12%. Whilst the industry becomes more focused, other areas such as wealth management and investment advisory will require more talent.
As Malaysia progresses towards achieving a high-income economy, the Kelly Salary Guide noted that the ICT industry remains a major contributor to the country’s economic advancement. ICT companies in animation, post-production, e-learning, mobile and creative content are now offering the services of over 7,000 skilled and experienced professionals. Job positions in the ICT industry are growing at double the rate of job positions in other industries, demonstrating rapid growth. With increasing technological advancements, niche positions such as networking, security and creative multimedia will become increasingly popular over the next three years. ICT professionals with 5-8 years of relevant experience will see a 15%-20% increase in salary.
The Kelly Salary Guide revealed that Services was another up-and-coming sub-sector. Mid to senior level Sales and Marketing talent with a good track record and high performance will record a 15%-20% salary increase with attractive commission packages. The Kelly Salary Guide also indicated that companies were seeking Sales and Marketing talent with relevant technical skills and knowledge to manage the Brand to become a market leader and not just a market challenger. As businesses were becoming more service oriented and targeted towards individual customer needs, capable and well-rounded personnel who can handle diverse portfolios are also in continuous demand.
The Kelly Salary Guide stated that Malaysia remained a strong player in the Call Centre industry due to the multilingual capabilities of telemarketers, recording that over 85% of agents possessed this quality. Employers in this field were also willing to offer additional incentives and allowances for candidates with fluency in other in-demand languages such as Korean, Japanese and Indonesian. Other notable industry that experienced a rise in salary was the Engineering sector, with a 15% increase and an increase in demand for contract staffing as a results of the implementation of various development projects.
Commenting on the type of skills required by employers, Ms. Norman stressed the importance of soft skills set. Organisations are on the lookout for candidates who are critical thinkers and problem solvers with good communication skills. The ability to build long-term, successful and professional relationship with clients was also deemed crucial.
“The rapid development of industries has quickened the pace of job recruitment. The demands of talent have moved with time and human resource strategies have had to be altered to accommodate this change. Talent mobility is rampant and companies need to redirect their investments, focusing more on talent development via redefining employee roles in organisations, training and development, engagement, succession planning and mentoring. This will prepare companies for future growth and ensure that a sustainable workforce and talent pool is built,” explained Ms. Norman.
The local economy registered a positive growth of 4.6% in the first quarter of 2011. Favourable labour market conditions in key sectors demonstrate the uptrend of various sectors. Strategic projects under the Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) that is expected to create 3.3 million jobs by 2020 has also contributed to economic growth. Looking forward, the IT, Engineering, Healthcare, Digital & Telecommunications, Outsourcing, Education, Call Centre and Islamic Banking and Finance sectors will continue to grow and there will be a continued demand for skilled talent.
Compiled annually since 2005, the Kelly Salary Guide aims to become a handy reference tool. It is an industry-focused guide that is indicative of actual transactions between employers and employees. The easy-to-read format outlines staffing opportunities, skills and specialisations in demand and human resource strategies. A copy will be available on Kelly Malaysia’s website: kellyservices.com.my from mid July 2011.
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About Kelly Services®
Kelly Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB) is a leader in providing workforce solutions. Kelly® offers a comprehensive array of outsourcing and consulting services as well as world-class staffing on a temporary, temporary-to-hire and direct-hire basis. Serving clients around the globe, Kelly provides employment to more than 530,000 employees annually. Revenue in 2010 was $5 billion. Visit www.kellyservices.com and connect with us onFacebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Media Enquiries
Jeannie Khoo – Marketing Director, Singapore and Malaysia
Tel: 03-2070 1878
Mobile: 012-2640570
jeannie_khoo@kellyservices.com.my
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Issued by: Kelly Services (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd