Data and Content Jobs in Demand Among Malaysian SMEs

Based on HR software firm BrioHR's SME Employment Index, Malaysia had seen an over 5% boost in employment in the SME sector during the first quarter of 2022. This indicates solid growth and an increase of more than 4% for the fourth quarter of 2021 and a 10% improvement in employment numbers in the previous six months (October 2021 - March 2022).

The SME Employment Index tracks employment health in the SME sector and calculates the aggregated data of 14,000 workers in Southeast Asia. 

 

Demand for digital marketing and tech roles

The Covid-19 pandemic made SMEs realise the importance of digital marketing. Due to this, jobs such as content writers, including written and video content, are highly sought after. 

BrioHR.com's co-founder and CEO, Benjamin Croc, said web developers, web designers, and data analysts are in high demand too. He added that there's also a growing demand for skilled marketing professionals. 

Croc said businesses now require digitally savvy professionals as they have become more data-driven in their approaches to marketing, customer service, employee development, and other essential functions. He stated that BrioHR's data show high demand for a wide range of professional expertise.

He added that a mix of hard and soft skills would be in demand this year, with the topmost in-demand skills including: 

• Self-management,

• Problem-solving,

• Technology use and development, and

• Working with people.

For hard skills, employers will be looking for job candidates who have advanced tech skills, such as coding and programming skills. For soft skills, they will look for critical thinking skills, good communication skills, and creative thinking skills. 

 

The merge of distinct marketing disciplines

Croc said that the digital media evolution had forced the previously distinct marketing disciplines to merge. He said that public relations is becoming more closely connected to advertising and marketing today. Day-to-day duties expand to include tasks that were formerly classified as advertising or marketing. 

Cros added that these professionals can and have become social media experts, content creators and marketers, brand ambassadors, and trend spotters. He said this trend will not slow down or change anytime soon.

 

Salaries increased by 1.3%

BrioHR's data also revealed that salaries increased by 1.3% in the first quarter of 2022 after a drop during the lockdowns. 

Though many other companies continue to operate on a limited budget as they concentrate on steering their way out of the pandemic and back to growth, Cros said that forward-thinking SMEs are eager to overcome the workforce scarcity caused by the pandemic and the Great Resignation.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia said that at least 150,000 SMEs in Malaysia had closed down since the pandemic, which resulted in 1.2% million job losses. 

Meanwhile, SAP's new survey titled "Transformational Talent: The impact of the Great Resignation on Digital Transformation in APJ's SMEs" revealed that 64% of SMEs in the Asia Pacific and Japan are having trouble coping with the Great Resignation's impact.

At the same time, nine out of 10 SMEs in the region stated that workforce volatility, such as the Great Resignation and the pandemic, has directly affected their digital transformation plans. 

The lack of skilled talent has also impeded their digital transformation plans. It was ranked as the top challenge to achieving successful transformation for SMEs across the Asia Pacific and Japan, ahead of traditional issues such as lack of budgets, cybersecurity, and lack of understanding of available digital solutions. 

 

Source: Marketing Interactive