Malaysia experienced a decline in the demand growth for banking and finance executives during April, as per the latest Monster Employment Index. The country recorded a 1% year-on-year upturn for the month, which is significantly lower than the 15% growth number it recorded in March.
The Monster Employment Index (MEI) is a monthly gauge of online hiring activity across Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, tracked by Monster.com. It comprises data for overall hiring activity in each country, as well as specific data in the banking and finance sector.
Singapore’s BFSI industry also experienced a slight decline in monthly demand growth, recording 26% year-on-year demand rise in April, compared to 28% y-o-y in March. The same was also true of the Philippines, which reported 13% year-on-year growth in April, down 2 points from March’s 15% number.
When looking at finance & accounts roles, the Philippines experienced the most notable increase in demand in April, with an 18% year-on-year growth for the month. This was followed by Singapore, which saw 13% annual demand.
“A major transformation is underway in the banking and finance industry at the moment as organisations become increasingly reliant on AI to simplify and automate processes. From chatbots and virtual assistants to algorithms that can perform complex analyses, there are a range of technologies out there that are completely changing the way the industry is structured,” said Abhijeet Mukherjee, CEO of Monster.com – APAC and Gulf. “This move is bound to impact recruitment patterns in the industry, and the slight slow-down in demand we are witnessing in the region might be a reflection of the bigger changes that lie ahead. Financial executives must constantly continue to sharpen their technological capabilities and soft skills if they aim to stay ahead of the curve,” he added.
