Companies are constantly investing to improve their technology usability and security to provide a better experience for their customers, paving the way for new entrants and jobs across development and enterprise technologies.

2023 information technology market and job trends

1. 5G will drive talent hiring

The highly anticipated roll-out of 5G technology in Malaysia is expected to contribute significantly to the country's job market, as the the developments will further advance web evolutions and create an estimated 39,000 value-add jobs.

The implementation of 5G is likely to lead to an increase in demand for workers with skills related to the technology, such as network engineers, data analysts, and software developers. Additionally, the increased speed and reliability of 5G networks may lead to the creation of new industries and business models, which in turn will create new job opportunities. However, it could also lead to displacement of jobs in older industries.

Malaysia’s 5G implementation, led by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), will enable the growth of the nation’s digital economy. With major mobile carriers already on board, we anticipate a boost in talent and business demands to test out the full capabilities of the country’s 5G infrastructure.

2. data centre developments

Between 2022 and 2027, multinational corporations (MNC) will invest more than US$2 billion to develop Malaysia-based data centres, to provide improved cloud computing services to the region as more businesses will rely on cloud solutions as they undergo further digital transformation.

Cyberjaya is at the heart of this development, with 14 of its data centre facilities contributing 75% of the existing capacity in Malaysia. In the coming years, data centre supply will see a three-fold increase from another 15 announced and under-construction projects with co-location operators.

3. course corrections within the technology space

Attributing to a poorer economic outlook and inflation, IT companies have announced hiring freezes and retrenchments at the end of 2022.

These changes can be viewed as a reflection of how business demands have changed over the course of the pandemic. Now, business leaders are developing new strategies and growth plans that would define them as a company as well as drive higher returns.

It is likely for hiring activities to moderate in the first half of 2023, as employers place a greater focus on workforce retention and attracting talent with niche skills.

in-demand development and enterprise tech jobs for 2023

Hiring trends are often cyclical and seasonal and shall pass. Based on what we have observed over the years, these hiring trends—layoffs and hiring freezes—are part of the cycle that tests a company’s resilience and adaptability.

The ongoing digitalisation and deployment of 5G, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things will create a growing demand for enterprise technology professionals to help organisations plan and execute digital transformation strategies.

In 2023 and beyond, demand for tech talent with skills and experience in enterprise technology and development is expected to rise in Malaysia. As technology continues to rapidly advance, there will likely be a greater need for talent like software developers and data scientists to improve overall business operations, increase competitiveness and drive innovation.

To adapt to these new realities, employers must develop smart hiring strategies to ensure they have the best people, skills and expertise capable of driving change.

most in-demand tech jobs in 2023

software engineers
data engineers
data scientists
AI agents
cloud engineers
DevOps engineers
cybersecurity specialists
IoT consultants

2023 talent expectations

With fears of a recession in 2023, the uncertain economic outlook will pull job candidates into opposite extremes. Some will actively look for jobs, while others may take a more cautious approach when considering a career switch.

When making career decisions, IT professionals will be reviewing the full package - compensation package, training and development opportunities, job responsibilities and overall organisational culture.

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