<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.hiredly.com/cms/data_9805dee2f4.jpg" alt="data-science-banner-hiredly"></figure><h3>Booming Demand: Hiring Trends and Labour Market Data</h3>The job outlook for 2025–2026 remains very robust for <a href="https://my.hiredly.com/jobs-in-information-technology/data-science-analytics" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">data science</a> fields. Big Data Analytics (BDA) is now central to the nation’s digital economy, and the market is projected to reach US$1.9 billion in 2025, up from US$1.1 billion in 2021. This 72% jump in market size within four years underscores the explosive growth of data-driven business. The government, through initiatives like <a href="https://eduspiral.com/2022/11/15/top-jobs-in-demand-malaysia-2030/#:~:text=Malaysia%20has%20set%20its%20sight,by%20the%20end%20of%202025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MyDIGITAL</a> (the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint), has set ambitious targets to grow the talent pool: aiming to produce 35,000 data professionals by the end of 2025.&nbsp;<h3>Industries Driving the Demand for Data Professionals</h3>One reason data science talent is so sought-after is that virtually every industry is embracing data-driven decision-making. In Malaysia, several key sectors are leading the charge in hiring data professionals:<ul><li>Finance and Banking: Banks, fintech start-ups, insurance companies, and investment firms are heavily investing in data analytics for fraud detection, risk management, customer insights, and algorithmic trading. In fact, the banking sector (along with telecommunications) accounts for nearly one-third of Malaysia’s data-driven spending. Financial institutions are at the forefront of recruiting data scientists and analysts to leverage big data for competitive advantage. &nbsp;</li><li>Technology and E-commerce: Tech companies from large telecom operators to e-commerce platforms and start-ups are major employers of data talent. Thanks to initiatives like the digital economy blueprint, opportunities in data science are expanding across e-commerce, fintech, and other tech-driven businesses. These firms analyse user behaviour, optimise platforms, and build AI-driven features, requiring experts in machine learning and big data engineering. &nbsp;</li><li>Healthcare: The healthcare and pharmaceutical sector is increasingly data-driven, using analytics for patient care improvements, medical research, and operational efficiency. Malaysia’s push into digital health means hospitals and health-tech companies need data analysts to interpret clinical data and public health trends. Data science roles in healthcare analytics are growing, with some specialists in health data commanding high salaries internationally. Local healthcare providers are beginning to hire data professionals to drive initiatives like personalised medicine and health informatics. &nbsp;</li><li>Manufacturing and Industry 4.0: As Malaysia embraces Industry 4.0, manufacturing firms are deploying IoT sensors and automation, which generate massive datasets. This has opened demand for data engineers and analysts in manufacturing and supply chain companies to perform predictive maintenance, optimise production processes, and forecast demand. Logistics and supply chain analytics roles are also on the rise, as companies seek to streamline operations.&nbsp; &nbsp;</li><li>Telecommunications: Telcos handle huge volumes of customer and network data. They hire data scientists for network optimisation, churn prediction, and marketing analytics. The telecommunications sector is a big contributor to data spending and remains a strong employer for data analytics talent. &nbsp;</li><li>Other Services: Beyond these, many other industries are joining the data revolution. Retail companies use data for consumer insights and inventory management. Government agencies and consultancies are building data science units for smart city projects and public policy analysis. Even sectors like education and hospitality increasingly use data analytics to drive decisions. In summary, data skills have broad cross-industry relevance, and employers ranging from finance, tech, and insurance to logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing are all actively recruiting data scientists.</li></ul>&nbsp;<h3>Salary Ranges for Data Science Roles in 2025</h3>Salaries for data science roles in Malaysia are highly competitive, reflecting strong demand and a shortage of experienced talent. While exact pay varies by role, industry, and experience, data professionals often earn well above the national average. For context, Malaysia’s overall average monthly salary in 2025 is around RM5,200 (about RM62,400 per year), but data science roles typically command significantly higher pay:<ul><li>Entry-Level: Fresh graduates or junior data analysts usually start around&nbsp;RM2,500 – RM3,500 per month (roughly RM30k–42k per year) depending on the company and their skills. This is already at the higher end for new grads in Malaysia. Many entry-level data roles quickly see raises of 10–15% within a couple of years as they gain experience. &nbsp;</li><li>Mid-Level Data Analyst / Scientist: With a few years of experience (say 3–5 years), data professionals can earn substantially more. A mid-level Data Analyst might earn&nbsp;RM96,000 – RM180,000 per year (about RM8k–15k monthly), according to salary guides. Similarly, a Data Scientist or Data Engineer with moderate experience often earns in the range of&nbsp;RM144,000 – RM240,000 annually. These ranges (RM12k–20k per month) indicate how valued these skills are; even mid-career data scientists are paid two to three times the national average wage. &nbsp;</li><li>Specialist and Senior Roles: As professionals advance, salaries climb further. Data Architects or machine learning specialists with niche expertise can command&nbsp;RM180,000 – RM300,000 per year in Malaysia. Roles like Business Intelligence Manager or Lead Data Analyst often fall in the RM200k+ annual range. &nbsp;</li><li>Leadership Positions: At the top end, those leading data teams or departments are very well compensated. A Head of Data Analytics or Data Science Director can earn on the order of&nbsp;RM300k–480k annually. The Chief Data Officer (CDO) or similar C-suite roles focused on data strategy have some of the highest packages, often RM500k+ per year for seasoned executives. These senior figures are responsible for driving data strategy across organisations, and their pay reflects the critical value they bring. &nbsp;</li></ul>It’s worth noting that actual salaries depend on factors like industry (financial and tech firms often pay a premium), the size of the company, and the candidate’s skillset. Nevertheless, even on the lower end, data science professionals tend to enjoy comfortable salaries with strong growth prospects. Employers are willing to offer premium compensation because of the scarcity of talent. As one recruiter noted, tech and finance roles (including data roles) in Malaysia have seen 15–20% pay increments recently due to limited talent availability.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.hiredly.com/cms/18137_1dd9cc70e3.jpg" alt="data-analysis-banner-hiredly"></figure><h3>Projected Outlook for 2025–2026</h3>Looking ahead, the demand for data science professionals is expected to remain robust or even accelerate through 2026. Several trends point to a sustained need for data talent:<ul><li>Digital Economy Expansion: Malaysia’s focus on becoming a digital economy powerhouse by 2025 means more businesses, from SMEs to large enterprises, will adopt data analytics and AI. The government’s digital blueprint not only targets talent development but also attracts data-driven investments. As of mid-2025, investor confidence in Malaysia’s digital ecosystem is high, with companies expanding local data operations. This growth translates into job opportunities in data engineering, analytics, and AI development. &nbsp;</li><li>Surging Tech Adoption: Technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, and IoT are being rapidly adopted across industries. For example, AI and machine learning specialists are among the fastest-growing job categories globally. In Malaysia, roles blending AI and data science (such as AI engineers) are emerging in finance, healthcare, and retail. The more these technologies take hold, the more organisations require skilled people to implement and manage them. &nbsp;</li><li>Talent Shortage Continues: The pipeline of new data science graduates and reskilled workers is growing, but not fast enough to meet industry demand. Globally, studies predict a significant shortfall of data scientists relative to demand through 2026 (for instance, one analysis expects demand to exceed supply by 50% in the U.S. by 2026). In Malaysia, the shortage is evident from the inclusion of data roles in the Critical Occupations List and the aggressive hiring offers we see. This shortage implies strong job security and bargaining power for qualified candidates in the coming years, and companies will compete to hire (and retain) them. &nbsp;</li><li>Industry-Specific Growth: Certain sectors are poised for especially high demand. Finance will continue hiring data analysts for regulatory technology (RegTech), fraud analytics, and customer personalisation. Manufacturing and oil &amp; gas are investing in advanced analytics as part of Industry 4.0 and may greatly expand data teams for IoT data analysis. The public sector could also boost hiring of data scientists for smart city projects and government service improvements. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are another area; as data tools become more accessible, even smaller companies seek data talent (often in hybrid roles like “data analyst cum business strategist”). Therefore, the demand base is broadening beyond just big corporations. &nbsp;</li><li>Global and Regional Trends: Malaysia competes with other ASEAN countries for digital investments. To stay competitive, Malaysian companies are likely to keep upskilling and hiring in data science. Moreover, some regional hubs (like Singapore) face even tighter talent shortages and higher salary costs, which could lead companies to build data teams in Malaysia as a cost-effective alternative. This could further boost local demand in 2025–2026.</li></ul>&nbsp;Overall, the outlook is that data science roles will remain among the most promising and “future-proof” jobs in Malaysia. Job seekers entering this field in 2025 can expect plenty of opportunities, and those already in the field should see good career progression. Employers will likely continue offering attractive incentives – not just high pay, but also perks like training subsidies or flexible work arrangements – to lure data professionals. As long as organisations generate and rely on data (which will only increase), the need for skilled data interpreters and innovators will persist.<figure class="image"><a href="https://my.hiredly.com/jobs-in-information-technology/data-science-analytics?utm_medium=article&amp;utm_source=hiredly_career_advice_blog&amp;utm_campaign=data_science_in_malaysia:_high_demand_and_growing_opportunities" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://assets.hiredly.com/cms/Email_8_Job_Recommender_You_Could_Be_Missing_Out_on_a_Dream_Job_da33fadd62.jpg"></a></figure> Set on starting a career as a data scientist? Whether it will be your first job or a <a href="https://my.hiredly.com/advice/successful-career-switch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">career change</a>, make sure your resume is up-to-date with the help of our <a href="https://my.hiredly.com/advice/perfect-resume-checklist" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">resume checklist</a>.&nbsp;When you’re ready, kickstart your career in Data Science with jobs on <a href="https://my.hiredly.com/jobs-in-information-technology/data-science-analytics?utm_medium=article&amp;utm_source=hiredly_career_advice_blog&amp;utm_campaign=data_science_in_malaysia:_high_demand_and_growing_opportunities" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hiredly</a> today!&nbsp;

Data science careers are on the rise in Malaysia, and job seekers with data skills are entering a thriving market. As the country accelerates its digital economy initiatives, roles like data scientists, machine learning engineers, data analysts, data engineers, and business intelligence (BI) specialists are seeing surging demand.