Surprise, Surprise, Southeast Asia Displays Strong Demand For IT & Tech Talent

Wire

Surprise, Surprise, Southeast Asia Displays Strong Demand For IT & Tech Talent

As the digital wave continues to sweep across Southeast Asia, online hiring demand for the region’s IT & Technology sector continues to stand strong, charting positive growth numbers for June, as per the latest Monster Employment Index (MEI).

Singapore leads this growth from the forefront, recording an impressive 44% year-on-year growth in e-recruitment demand for tech talent for June 2019 – slightly higher than May’s 42% annual demand growth number.

The Philippines also experienced a slight uptick in hiring demand growth, from 15% year-on-year in May to 18% year-on-year in June, reflecting rising demand.

In contrast, Malaysia’s demand has dropped from previous months, recording 24% year-on-year- growth for June 2019. While still strong positive numbers overall, it is significantly lower than May’s 44%, signalling a slowdown in demand.

Looking specifically at Software, Hardware & Telecom job roles, Singapore once again outshone its peers with a strong 29% year-on-year growth for the month of June. Meanwhile, Malaysia and the Philippines both experienced a lower growth percentage of 13% year-on-year for the same month.

“Southeast Asia’s digital economy is projected to triple in size and reach $240 billion by 2025, according to Google’s recent ‘e-Conomy SEA’ report. The region holds immense potential, specifically in the digital sector and this is reflected in the steady demand for IT & Tech talent across the region,” a company spokesperson said.

“Start-ups are mushrooming in every corner of the region and larger multinationals are also flocking here for a gateway into developing markets with disposable income, a young potential and high internet penetration rates. This is driving up the demand for digitally skilled talent and this demand rise will likely continue in the near future as well,” he added.

The MEI is a monthly gauge of online hiring activity across Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines tracked by Monster.com. It comprises data of overall hiring activity in each country, as well as specific data in the IT & Tech sector.