Reeracoen Group x Rakuten Perception survey finds Malaysian companies taking a measured strategy to hiring and funding, with the strongest domestic-market focus amongst six ASEAN markets surveyed
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Malaysian companies are responding to price and inflation pressures with operational self-discipline and a sharpened concentrate on the home market, based on new findings from The Nice Restructuring: ASEAN Client & Enterprise Pulse Survey 2026.
Yohei Yagi, Nation Supervisor, Reeracoen Malaysia
Revealed by Reeracoen Group, a number one Asia-based recruitment and HR options group, in partnership with Rakuten Perception, an internet market analysis subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., the research finds that 75% of Malaysian companies establish their residence market as their prime progress alternative, the strongest home orientation recorded within the survey.
A extra targeted strategy to hiring and funding
Malaysian companies are concentrating on strengthening current operations whereas taking a extra selective strategy to workforce progress. Selective hiring is the most typical hiring stance, cited by 36% of companies, whereas 7% are increasing headcount.
Yohei Yagi, Nation Supervisor, Reeracoen Malaysia, mentioned:
“Malaysian employers proceed to rent for essential roles, however hiring choices have gotten extra targeted and aligned with longer-term enterprise priorities. Firms that strengthen operational effectivity whereas persevering with to put money into the capabilities they want for progress can be higher positioned to seize alternatives as circumstances evolve.”
Funding follows an identical sample with 16% of Malaysian companies rising funding and 46% sustaining present ranges as they focus assets on operational priorities and sustainable progress.
Home market takes centre stage
Malaysia stands other than its ASEAN friends in the place companies see their subsequent alternatives. Three in 4 Malaysian companies (75%) establish the home market as their main progress alternative—the very best proportion among the many six markets surveyed.
This domestic-first strategy comes as companies deal with greater prices and altering financial circumstances. The findings present a market inserting better emphasis on strengthening operations, managing assets fastidiously and constructing from alternatives nearer to residence.
Shoppers alter monetary priorities
Malaysian shoppers are additionally adjusting their monetary priorities in response to present financial circumstances. Amongst Malaysian shoppers surveyed, 88% say they’re spending extra cautiously, with meals costs (64%), gasoline and transport prices (46%) and family payments (38%) among the many pressures shaping spending choices.
Monetary priorities are additionally shifting as households reply to present circumstances. Greater than half of the respondents (54%) cite searching for extra revenue sources, whereas 41% are saving extra.
Collin Leow, Nation Director, Malaysia & Thailand, Rakuten Perception, mentioned:
“Malaysia’s findings present a market adapting pragmatically to altering financial circumstances. Companies are inserting better emphasis on home alternatives and operational self-discipline, whereas shoppers are adjusting their spending and monetary priorities. Collectively, these tendencies level to a extra deliberate strategy to progress fairly than a retreat from alternative.”
Taken collectively, the findings level to a measured strategy to progress, as companies concentrate on home alternatives, workforce priorities and operational self-discipline whereas shoppers alter to continued price pressures.
For the total six-market findings, together with country-by-country profiles and a Management Playbook of eight strategic priorities for regional enlargement, obtain The Nice Restructuring: ASEAN Client & Enterprise Pulse Survey 2026.
Obtain the report at:
https://www.reeracoen.com.my/en/occasions/asean-consumer-business-pulse-survey-2026?utm_source=my_press_release&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=asean_report
About Reeracoen Group
Reeracoen is a number one Asia-based recruitment and HR options group, connecting expertise with forward-thinking organisations throughout the area. With 9 places of work throughout 6 main Asian markets, Reeracoen combines deep native market experience with cross-border recruitment capabilities to assist sustainable enterprise progress.
Past recruitment, Reeracoen offers market intelligence, workforce insights, wage analysis, and employer advisory companies, serving to organisations make knowledgeable expertise and enterprise choices in an evolving regional economic system.
Reeracoen’s dedication to service excellence has been recognised by a number of business awards, together with Finest Recruitment & Expertise Acquisition Company (2025, 2026), Consumer Service Excellence Award (2026), Finest Worldwide Recruitment & Expertise Acquisition Company (2024), and Finest Government Recruitment Company (2024).
For extra info, go to https://www.reeracoen.com.my/.
About Rakuten Perception, Inc.
Rakuten Perception, Inc. is a wholly-owned on-line market analysis subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., a world chief in web companies headquartered in Tokyo.
Established in 1997 as AIP Company and built-in into the Rakuten Group in 2014, Rakuten Perception operates a analysis panel targeted on 12 main Asian markets and the USA, with a panel community spanning 60 nations and areas.
With places of work in 11 nations and areas, the corporate offers market analysis for greater than 500 main firms worldwide. Rakuten Perception Singapore serves as a regional hub offering multi-lingual and multi-functional operational assist for purchasers throughout Southeast Asia.
For extra info, go to https://perception.rakuten.com.
Collin Leow, Nation Director, Malaysia & Thailand, Rakuten Perception
