ARTICLE #5

Malaysia's ICT Job Market Looks Bright for 2012

A new report on Malaysia's information and computer technology industry (ICT) is forecasting 12 percent growth in the sector in 2012. Plus, ICT professionals are benefiting from that growth thanks to higher earnings.

The Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry Malaysia (PIKOM), in its 2012 Job Market Outlook report, says that ICT workers are earning nine percent more this year. The average pay in the ICT sector is now RM6,800 up from RM6,240 in 2011.

PIKOM's Chairman, Woon Tai Hai, said "the trends indicate a positive feel on the overall job market in the country. Salary growth is moderate in tandem with the economic climate in Malaysia which is still experiencing resilient growth in spite of the conditions in Eurozone."

PIKOM says the nine percent growth in salaries is in line with the stimulus provided by various government economic programmes. The Digital Transformation Programme, the Economic Transformation Programme and Entry Points were cited as the three main drivers of salary growth and strength in the sector.

Growth should be sustained in future as interest grows in online and mobile applications. The continued roll out of high-speed broadband, which is part of the Digital Malaysia Initiative, should also support the sector.

Entry-level salaries, which have remained flat over the last ten years, saw an increase this year and are expected to grow in tandem with management salaries. That's good news in helping companies attract recent graduates and may work towards reducing the talent drain.

According to the report, new entrants to the ICT sector has increased significantly, by 24% last year. The new recruits are making RM2,238, up from RM1,800 in 2010.

Within ICT, the report found it pays to work for a larger company. Professionals working at large corporations tend to make more money -on average of 36.4 percent higher - than companies with fewer than 100 employees.

Another contributing factor to maximizing potential depends on where you work. Salaries in the Klang Valley are higher by nine percent compared with Johor. But, Johor is only marginally higher by 1.7 percent than Penang.

ICT jobs are some of the most highly paid in Malaysia. Only oil and gas industry and telecommunications professionals make more.

SOURCE: The Choice