Malaysia, 18 February 2026 - Hays, the global leader in specialist recruitment and workforce solutions, has released its 2026 Hays Asia Salary Guide, uncovering a clear trend across the region: professionals are increasingly turning to job moves to achieve meaningful salary growth. 

Drawing on responses from more than 13,000 professionals across Asia, the Salary Guide highlights three major trends when it comes to salary-related motivations: rising dissatisfaction with pay, the growing influence of the ‘mover’s premium’ on salary growth, and the increasing importance of a well-rounded Employer Value Proposition that extends beyond compensation. 

The findings show that while many professionals are pursuing higher salaries through job changes, employers can counter this by strengthening their value propositions, clarifying development pathways and addressing the broader factors shaping today’s career choices. 

Key findings for salaries 

1. Dissatisfaction with current pay is rising 

• 37 per cent of professionals in Malaysia are dissatisfied with their current salary, slightly below the Asia average of 44 per cent.
• This sentiment is closely tied to pay adjustments experienced by professionals:
  • 27 per cent of professionals in Malaysia did not receive a raise last year, while three per cent experienced a reduction in salary.
  • Salary movements were much more conservative throughout Asia, with 36 per cent of professionals overall not receiving a raise last year and six per cent experiencing a reduction. 
• Looking ahead, the outlook in Malaysia is improving: 
  • Only 11 per cent of professionals in Malaysia do not expect a raise in 2026, with one per cent expecting a reduction in salary. 
  • This compares to 40 per cent of professionals in Asia expect not to receive a raise in 2026, while 5 per cent expect a pay cut. 

• As professionals internalise this gap between what they expect and what their employers deliver, many are reconsidering their next move. 

2. The mover’s premium is real, and professionals know it 

• A desire for better wage growth is feeding into mobility decisions in Malaysia: 58 per cent of professionals in Malaysia who increased their salaries by over ten per cent in 2025 changed employers.
  • This compares to 48 per cent of professionals in Asia who increased their salaries by over ten per cent last year did so by changing employer.
• This trend is expected to accelerate: 52 per cent of professionals in Malaysia (vs 50 per cent in Asia) plan to make a change to their career path this year. 
• Among those planning a move in Malaysia, 54 per cent of professionals cite better salaries and benefits as their primary motivation, followed by limited career opportunities (35 per cent) and a lack of a challenging role (27 per cent). 

 Tom Osborne, Managing Director of Hays Southeast Asia 

“Malaysia’s talent market continues to show resilience, but the data makes clear that professionals are becoming far more strategic about their career decisions. With 58 per cent of professionals who secured a salary increase of over 10 per cent doing so by changing employers, mobility has become a powerful catalyst for earnings growth. This shift is particularly striking at a time when most professionals anticipate limited salary progression in the year ahead.” 

“While Malaysia reports the lowest proportions of professionals experiencing stagnant salaries in Asia, expectations are nevertheless evolving. More than half of local professionals planning a move are motivated by the desire for better pay, but many are equally driven by the need for clearer career pathways, more challenging roles, and a higher degree of stability. These factors are shaping how people evaluate their long‑term prospects with their current employer.” 

“For organisations, this represents an important opportunity to strengthen their Employee Value Proposition. Competitive remuneration is essential, but it must be supported by meaningful development opportunities, transparent progression frameworks, and roles that stretch and engage talent. Employers who can deliver this combination will be better positioned to retain skilled professionals and provide the confidence they need to build their future in Malaysia’s evolving job market.”