Survey Shows More Malaysians Working 2 Jobs To Make Ends Meet
The rising cost of living has driven many Malaysians to work two jobs and it’s only possible due to a hybrid work model.
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The rising cost of living and current economic challenges have driven many Malaysians to work two jobs.
According to Employment Hero’s Remote Work Report 2022, more than half (66%) of Malaysian knowledge workers take on a secondary source of income to make ends meet.
‘Knowledge workers’ refers to employees who are required to work primarily on a computer or with documentation, instead of workers who are physical or location-bound.
The survey gathered responses mostly from Generation Z with 83% of the respondents aged 18 and 24 working remotely at least once a week.
The report also found that Malaysia ranked the highest rate out of all the countries surveyed with Singapore at 56%, Australia and New Zealand at 51% and the UK at 38%.
According to New Straits Times, Employment Hero chief people officer Alex Hattingh said there’s a clear preference among Malaysian knowledge workers for working remotely, especially in a hybrid model where they can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Out of all the countries surveyed in our report, it’s interesting to note that Malaysians stand out as viewing a secondary income as a positive – and maybe even necessary – addition to their lives.
Employment Hero chief people officer Alex Hattingh
Hattingh said the sentiment also demonstrated a keenness of Malaysians to take on new challenges and show their capability to juggle various responsibilities without affecting their work productivity.
He added that this is something employers should take note of when dealing with the younger generations in the workforce.
Is it really that good to work two jobs?
The report showed that 77% of those surveyed said having additional income streams dramatically improved their quality of life. This makes sense since having more money not only provides stability and security but more options.
Most employees (78%) also believe their productivity at work isn’t affected by having additional income streams.
38% of people who were able to work on their secondary income during working hours said it was only possible due to the flexibility to work remotely or in a hybrid setting.
In the midst of the pandemic, most employees worked remotely or in a hybrid setting from 2020 to 2021.
However, half of the workforce (55%) returned to the office full-time in 2022 post-pandemic. Of these, 43% said the return to office was due to their employer’s directive.
A hybrid work model wins
Although Malaysian employees were happy to return to the office in some capacity, the report finding suggests that Malaysians prefer flexibility more than anything.
88% of Malaysian employees are keen to work remotely at least once a week while 23% prefer to work remotely daily.
Being able to work remotely or in a hybrid setting is seen as an improvement for work-life balance, personal finances, and preventing climate change.
Having this kind of work flexibility allows Malaysians to delegate time between home and work, save costs on food and transportation, and reduce carbon emissions from commuting to work.
According to the survey, 60% of people in marginalised groups agreed that working remotely protected them from workplace discrimination and 40% said it improved the work culture.
The survey results suggest that remote work may have also provided temporary relief for those who are stuck in a toxic work environment.
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