Tariff Changes & Talent Trends - Industrial Sector : Southeast Asia (H2 2025)

Heavy Engineering | Automotive | Chemicals | Energy & Renewables | Food & Nutrition | Manufacturing

Prepared by Vectra Search

Executive Summary

The recent tariff changes in Southeast Asia have significant implications for the industrial sector. This section provides an overview of the key impacts and considerations for businesses operating in the region.

Key Impacts

1. Increased Costs: The new tariffs are expected to increase the cost of imported raw materials, which will affect the overall production costs for manufacturers.

2. Supply Chain Disruptions: Companies may experience disruptions in their supply chains as they adjust to the new tariff regulations and seek alternative suppliers.

3. Competitive Landscape: The tariff changes may alter the competitive landscape, with some companies gaining an advantage due to their ability to adapt more quickly to the new regulations.

The Industrial sector across Southeast Asia remains mixed, balancing macroeconomic headwinds with structural growth opportunities in manufacturing, energy transition, and food security. Heavy Engineering, Automotive, Chemicals, Renewables, and Food & Nutrition are responding to both global trade pressures and regional shifts in supply chains.

Automotive and Heavy Engineering face slowing export demand but are pivoting towards electrification, automation, and localized production—creating new demand for technical specialists and engineers.

Chemicals and Food & Nutrition are resilient, with rising focus on sustainability, safety, and compliance, particularly in Malaysia and Thailand.

Renewables and energy transition projects are accelerating, especially in Vietnam and the Philippines, spurring demand for project managers, engineers, and regulatory specialists.

Sectoral Trends

Heavy Engineering & Manufacturing

Tariffs push OEMs to localize sub‑assemblies and increase vendor audits; OEE/automation programs accelerate.

Hot roles: Plant operations managers, Manufacturing/Process engineers,

Maintenance & Utilities (TPM), Quality systems/ISO leads, Industrial IoT/CMMS

Automotive

EV policies in TH/ID/MY support assembly growth; localization and aftersales capacity expand.

Hot roles: Supplier Quality Engineers (SQE), Localization procurement,

Testing & homologation, Aftersales service ops, Charging infra-PMs

Chemicals

Specialty & performance chemicals outpace bulk; feedstock/logistics volatility elevates HSE & compliance.

Hot roles: Process engineers, HSE/EHS managers, Regulatory affairs

(REACH/CLP/GHS), Reliability/rotating equipment, QA/QC lab leads

Energy & Renewables

Grid‑scale solar and onshore wind pipelines expand; O&G cautious but digital oilfield roles persist.

Hot roles: EPC Project managers, Grid/Interconnection specialists,

PV/Wind engineers, Construction HSE, ESG & carbon accounting

Food & Nutrition Manufacturing

Local production expands to hedge tariffs/logistics; traceability and sustainability gain priority.

Hot roles: Plant managers, R&D food technologists, Packaging engineers,

Procurement (direct/indirect), Quality & Regulatory (HACCP/ISO 22000)

Broader Manufacturing

China+1 drives logistics build‑out, brownfield upgrades, and workforce skilling.

Hot roles: Logistics/warehouse development, Capex controllers,

Industrial engineering/lean, Trade compliance & customs, Regional PMO

Country Highlights

Singapore 

HQ & trade node; selective hiring in supply chain leadership, compliance, treasury/trade finance, and digital transformation.

Indonesia 

Industrial parks expanding; strong demand for plant start‑up, maintenance, EHS, vendor localization in automotive & heavy engineering.

Vietnam

Continued China+1 momentum; demand for production planners, supplier QA, IE/lean, logistics & export documentation.

Thailand 

Automotive & EV anchoring production; demand for operations managers, SQE, reliability/FA, warehousing/export ops.

Malaysia 

Food processing, auto assembly, specialty chemicals; plant leadership, compliance/HSE, and procurement in focus.

Philippines 

Renewables pipeline and select manufacturing; EPC, grid, and regulatory roles alongside SSC/PMO support.

Cambodia 

Defensive posture in apparel/footwear manufacturing; quality/compliance and productivity engineering are priority hires.

Short-Term Hiring View

Functions in demand:

• Plant start‑up & ramp‑to‑rate, Maintenance & Utilities (TPM)

• Industrial engineering/lean, Quality systems, Reliability/RCM

• Procurement/localization, Vendor development, Trade compliance & customs

• Project management (EPC/commissioning), Regional PMO, Logistics/warehouse ops

Recommendations for Employers:

• Lock in scarce start‑up talent with phased sign‑on and milestone bonuses.

• Stand up a trade‑compliance spine (origin, customs, sanctions) to de‑risk scrutiny.

• Blend core FTEs with surge contracting during commissioning/ramp; invest in supervisor skilling.

• Use hub‑and‑spoke teams from Singapore for PMO, vendor development, and regional planning.

Recommendations to Job‑seeker:

• Lead with ramp‑to‑rate wins, HSE/quality audit passes, and supplier localization outcomes.

• Highlight multi‑site rollout, bilingual capability, and regulatory engagement experience.

• Upskill in trade compliance, advanced S&OP, reliability/RCM, and project controls.

• Be open to short‑term project contracts in new plants; many convert to FTE post‑stabilization.

Closing Takeaway

Employers must align hiring with efficiency, compliance, and sustainability goals, while also building leadership talent for transformation. Job seekers will find opportunities in engineering, operations, project management, and supply chain—with sustainability expertise becoming a key differentiator across the sector.

Selected References

• Reuters & policy trackers (2025): ASEAN trade & tariff developments; Singapore/Thailand macro updates.

• Industry: China+1 manufacturing relocation and SEA industrial real estate.

• Energy transition trackers: Vietnam/Philippines renewable project pipelines (2025).