In a startling revelation, nearly 45% of respondents from Randstad’s 2024 Employer Brand Research in Malaysia report feeling marginalized at work due to their ethnicity, religion, nationality, or disability. The comprehensive survey, conducted in January 2024 by Kantar TNS, sheds light on significant diversity gaps across the workforce. A notable 12% of individuals chose not to disclose their reason for feeling like a minority, signaling underlying discomfort with openly discussing such concerns.
Gen Z and Millennials Face More Challenges
The report highlights that younger generations are more likely to feel like minorities in their workplaces. Specifically, 56% of Gen Zers and 47% of Millennials shared this sentiment, in contrast to 41% of Gen Xers. This generational divide is mainly attributed to how their ethnicity, nationality, or race is perceived in professional settings.
“Despite significant progress towards greater diversity, our research reveals a gap in true inclusivity in Malaysia’s working population. Equity is a must-have in human resources strategies, especially if they want to attract and retain talent for their skills and experience,” commented Fahad Naeem, Country Director of Randstad Malaysia.
Interestingly, religious beliefs also play a crucial role in how Gen Zers experience their workplace. 19% of Gen Zers identified religion as a reason for feeling marginalized, compared to 12% of Millennials and 9% of Gen Xers.
Career Growth Barriers for Minority Employees
The report shows that minorities are 26% more likely to face career growth challenges than their non-minority peers. 44% of all respondents cited issues such as lack of promotions, pay increments, and fewer training opportunities. These disparities are a significant roadblock for career advancement.
“To bridge this gap, employers can be more transparent about the metrics and methods they use to evaluate and assess their employees. Through open communication, employers will be able to have more constructive dialogues to improve their assessments,” added Naeem.
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Gender Inequality Still Prevalent in Male-Dominated Industries
Despite some positive strides in inclusivity, gender inequality persists, especially in traditionally male-dominated industries like manufacturing and technology. In the manufacturing sector, 25% of men and 14% of women feel that they are not receiving equal pay for equal work. In technology, the disparity is starker, with 31% of women and only 18% of men expressing concerns about pay equality.
“Manufacturing and technology, amongst others, are traditionally male-dominated industries, where we expect to see significant gender inequality. To attract and retain a diverse workforce, companies need to implement policies, initiatives, and benefits that are equitable and supportive for all genders,” said Naeem.
Gen Xers Feel Overlooked
The survey also revealed that Gen Xers are the most likely to feel overlooked in terms of career growth opportunities. One in five Gen Xers believe that the most deserving employees do not always get the best opportunities. Only 52% of Gen Zers and Gen Xers said that senior management was fair in offering reskilling and upskilling opportunities, in contrast to two-thirds of Baby Boomers who were more optimistic about career development programs.
Randstad’s 9th annual Employer Brand Research aims to help employers and HR professionals align their diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies with employee expectations. The full report includes insights into workforce trends, including the impact of AI and the evolving expectations of today’s talent pool.
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