Recruitment in Malaysia is likely to remain cautious in the first half of 2016 due to pressures from the weak ringgit as well as falling crude oil prices. Across sectors, hiring is only anticipated either for replacement positions or within critical business units, Robert Walters said.
Despite the slowdown in recruitment, Islamic banking recruitment is growing, noted the company. With Malaysia being the biggest player in the global Islamic banking industry, relevant professionals will see opportunities, particularly in Islamic asset management.
Sally Raj, Managing Director of Robert Walters Malaysia, comments: "In times of market uncertainty, companies need to see the long-term value of investing in their employees. Staff retention is now more crucial than ever as Malaysian professionals are highly motivated by training and development initiatives as well as leadership opportunities. Despite this general slowdown, growth is still forecast within IT, corporate governance and Islamic banking, all of which are driving recruitment of top-tier skilled specialists."
Robert Walters focuses on placing high-calibre professionals into permanent, contract and temporary positions at all levels of seniority. The Malaysia business recruits across the accountancy and finance, banking, business support, compliance, financial services, HR, legal, IT, sales, supply chain, marketing, procurement and supply chain fields.