KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 29): Malaysian employers are finding it harder to hire top talent as workers become more selective and prioritise job security over salary, according to recruitment firm Robert Walters.

A survey by the firm found that 89% of companies have seen more job offer rejections this year. 

The online poll, conducted in September 2025 via LinkedIn, gathered responses from over 600 companies and professionals across Southeast Asia, including around 60 companies and 150 professionals in Malaysia.

The study shows that 92% of Malaysian professionals value job security more than pay, while 79% say economic conditions affect their decision to change jobs.

Robert Walters Malaysia director Gan Hua Choon said professionals want stable, well-led organisations with clear growth prospects. About 31% of rejections were due to company stability concerns, and 48% were linked to salary or cultural mismatch.

Gan added that while job security is important, maintaining talent mobility is also crucial for innovation and long-term economic growth.

Despite cautious jobseekers, demand for skilled talent in Malaysia is rising, especially in tech and high-value sectors.

Robert Walters said Malaysia’s expected US$40 billion (RM169.2 billion) investment in AI and data centres by 2030 will boost demand for talent in cloud, data science, analytics, and cybersecurity.