Summary
- Layoffs affected 22.9% of designers in the past year
- Job security concerns high, with 74.8% expressing market uncertainty
- Current roles well-aligned: 77.3% report matching job scope with expertise
Takeaways
- While direct layoff impact is moderate, psychological effects on job security are widespread.
- High role alignment suggests designers maintaining positions in their areas of expertise.
- Career advancement and job opportunities are perceived to be limited in the current market climate, despite good role alignment and majority unaffected by layoffs.
- Growing workload for retained staff suggests efficiency pressures post-layoffs and challenges in navigation the organisational changes.
- Strong disconnect between role satisfaction and market opportunity outlook.
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🎙️ Commentary
Overall, looking at the job market for designers
- There's a big gap (51.9%) between how designers feel about job security and the actual situation, perhaps due several things like AI, career switchers, and the economy
- Most designers (77.3%) feel their roles fit well with their skills, showing the industry might be on the path to maturing
- Southeast Asia's unique situation of people working across borders adds complexity to the job market
- The job market show signs of improvement, but companies are still careful about hiring
What This Means For You
If you're a designer:
- Look at different ways to keep learning (like podcasts, online content, community events)
- Watch for new opportunities in emerging areas like AI, less establish industries, or as the market improves
If you're leading a team:
- Think about how to acclimatise to new technology like AI while keeping your team feeling secure and motivated
- Help prevent burnout when extra effort doesn't lead to better rewards
If you're running an organisation:
- Balance being careful with hiring while staying ready for market recovery
- Consider if you're investing in design because it's valuable or just following trends
Questions Worth Exploring
- How will AI continue to change what designers do day-to-day?
- Will Southeast Asia's design market follow similar patterns to the US tech recovery?
- How can the industry better balance new graduates and existing talents with market demand?
- What new design specialties might emerge as technology and business needs evolve?
- How might cross-border work opportunities change in Southeast Asia?
Additional reading and references
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Overview
DemographicsRoles and ExperiencesCompensationCompanySentiments and Perceptions
Offer and NegotiationCareer ProgressionValue of DesignJob Market and OpportunitiesSupport this community initiative
Help grow our impact:
- Share this report with your networks and tag us at #DesignPayAsia
- Share your story on social media using #DesignPayAsia
- Contribute to our open pay database, especially if you're based in Southeast Asia
- Take part in future research to strengthen our understanding of the regional design industry
Your input helps create transparency and enables better career decisions for designers across the region.
