KUALA LUMPUR (July 16): Malaysian employees are no longer satisfied with just fair pay — they want salaries that reflect recognition, career progression and the value they bring to their organisation.

A survey by online employment portal Jobstreet by SEEK found that while 81% of workers feel they are paid fairly for their current role, less than half say they are satisfied with their salary. The findings show that employees also look at workload and whether their income supports their ideal lifestyle.

“Our research shows employees are making an important distinction between being paid fairly and feeling genuinely valued,” said Nicholas Lam, managing director of Jobstreet by SEEK Malaysia.

The latest Salary Pulse 2026 surveyed 1,010 employed Malaysians aged 18 to 64 through an online survey in February 2026.

Low wages have long been a sore point for a large majority of Malaysians grappling with rising cost of living even as the country’s economy expanded rapidly and productivity improved significantly.

For years now, employees' share of labour income has largely stagnated at a little over one-third of Malaysia’s economic output and below the government’s target.

Jobstreet by SEEK noted that only 8% of the employees surveyed were willing to work for a company whose values did not align with their own even when offered a 10% pay increase.

Further, the findings pointed out that how an employee received a pay increase mattered more than the increase itself as nearly two-thirds of employees who saw performance-based increments were satisfied, compared with the 52% satisfied employees who had company-wide adjustments.

For employers, that means looking beyond market benchmarks and being transparent about pay decisions, Jobstreet by SEEK said.

Jobstreet by SEEK also recommended that firms hold regular discussions, and not just annual reviews, to help employees understand expectations, strengthen engagement and reduce the risk of dissatisfaction building over time.

“Salary is only one form of recognition,” Jobstreet by SEEK said. “Career development, feedback and meaningful acknowledgement all help employees feel valued.”