Current date 2026-11-02
Career Mastery

What Malaysian Jobseekers Want in 2025: Salary, Work-Life Balance & Career Growth

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Malaysian jobseekers are no longer settling, they want higher salaries, better work-life balance, and clear career growth. With talent competition heating up, how can employers keep up? Jobstreet by SEEK’s new Talent Attraction Lab provides the answers.

The Talent Attraction Lab Empowers Asia-Pacific

This innovative platform equips employers with data-driven hiring strategies, enabling them to attract and retain high-quality candidates. Backed by a study of 33,000+ candidates across APAC, including 14,600 in Asia, the Talent Attraction Lab reveals key trends shaping today’s workforce.

Key Insights: What Malaysian Jobseekers Want?

The study highlights the top factors influencing job decisions in Malaysia:

  • 16.6% of Malaysian jobseekers prioritize salary and compensation, making it the most important factor
  • 14.4% value work-life balance citing additional leave, fair overtime pay and stable working hours
  • 13.9% seek career development opportunities including clear career progression, promotion prospect and skill-building programs
  • 12.5% of employees consider workplace culture and management quality for job satisfaction

While these factors attract talent, employers must also address the key reasons employees leave their jobs:

  • 38.9% resign due to low compensation and benefits
  • 33.2% resign due to limited career growth opportunities

Management Quality and Workplace Culture Gain Importance in Job Satisfaction

Since 2017, management quality and workplace culture have climbed from 10th to 8th place in job satisfaction rankings, highlighting their growing importance.

“As Malaysia’s job market grows increasingly competitive, employers need smarter ways to attract and identify the right talent. Our latest research highlights key trends shaping the workforce, from shifting jobseeker expectations to the need for stronger employer branding. With tools like SEEK Pass, we’re enabling businesses to make faster, more confident hiring decisions by providing verified candidate credentials. This helps employers streamline recruitment, reduce hiring risks, and ultimately secure the best talent in a crowded market.”

Nicholas Lam, Managing Director of Jobstreet by SEEK in Malaysia.

How to Attract and Retain Top Talent?

Companies can retain top talent by offering competitive salaries, career growth opportunities, and continuous learning. Flexible work options and strong workplace culture boost engagement and satisfaction. Prioritizing fairness and professional development foster a productive environment.

SEEK’s Verified Credential Passport is Now Available

Including Malaysia, six Asian markets are now available for SEEK Pass. SEEK’s verified credential passport enables jobseekers to securely pre-verify their work credentials, enhancing their visibility while allowing employers to confidently shortlist candidates and streamline recruitment on a reliable platform.

View The Live Update at Talent Attraction Lab Dashboard

Live updates are now available on the Talent Attraction Lab dashboard, helping employers to:

  • Refine Employee Value Propositions (EVP) to align with market expectations
  • Optimise job postings to attract high-quality candidates
  • Develop stronger workplace cultures that prioritise employee well-being and professional growth

Stay ahead of hiring trends! Explore real-time insights on the Talent Attraction Lab dashboards:

https://my.employer.seek.com/market-insights/talent-attraction-lab

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Munirah

On my way to turning my dreams into reality

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