Farezza Hanum Rashid,New Straits Times
PETALING JAYA: It will be a challenging year for jobseekers as uncertainty roils the global economy, but plenty of employers say they will keep hiring.
SEEK Asia chief executive officer Suresh Thiru said China’s shrinking economy, plummeting prices of oil and major commodities would affect the job market.
“Jobseekers will not be as happy as they were two to three years ago, but it is still very early in the year, so it will be interesting to see what will unfold,” he said after the launch of JobStreet.com Malaysia Career and Training Fair (MCTF ‘16) at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre in Mid Valley Megamall here yesterday.
Present were JobStreet.com Malaysia country manager Chook Yuh Yng and SEEK Asia chief product officer Jake Andrew.
Chook said there was a one per cent drop in the hiring of new employees last year compared with 2014.
According to a JobStreet.com survey, 88 per cent of employers said they would maintain or increase hiring, and expected last year’s positive trend in the first quarter job hunting season to be repeated this year.
“The first and second quarters of every year are the peak seasons, especially after Chinese New Year and in March, after employees get their bonuses.
“Employees often seek other job opportunities after they get their bonuses, so employers will need to hire replacements,” Chook said, adding that they expected to see the same trend this year.
“Topping the hiring rate are the manufacturing, banking, construction and retail sectors.
“However, sales, information technology and accounting are among the most challenging in job hunts because of the skills required and the competition among candidates.”
Andrew said jobseekers needed to have more than a specialist skill.
“Technology has made life much easier, making it tougher in the job markets.
“Candidates should develop transferable skills, not just a specialist skill, to enable them to do other job roles, hence increasing their desirability to hiring companies.”
MCTF ‘16 ends tomorrow, and is jointly organised with AIC Exhibitions Sdn Bhd and SEEK Asia.
There are more than 120 employers aiming to attract some 100,000 jobseekers.
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