Three in five Malaysians would be less likely to hire a candidate with a tattoo

Two in five have a negative impression of people with tattoos

Having a tattoo could harm your chances of getting hired in Malaysia, the latest YouGov research finds.

Although 7% of Malaysians have a tattoo, three in five (58%) say they would be less likely to hire someone with a tattoo, even if they were qualified for the position. Around four in ten (37%) say a candidate’s tattoo would have no effect on their decision to hire, while another 5% say it would make them more likely to give them a job.

Face tattoos are the type of inking that is most likely to affect a qualified candidate’s chances of being hired (80%). This is followed by neck (69%), hand (60%) and arm (51%) tattoos. Torso tattoos are the least likely to affect one’s chances of being hired (10%) – probably because they are often not visible.

The research finds that in general Malaysians have quite a conservative view of tattoos in the workplace. Six in ten (63%) think they should be covered at the workplace while who thirds (67%) believe that certain professions are unsuitable for people with tattoos. However, four in ten (42%) also reckon that tattoos should not impact a person’s employability.

Overall, nearing two in five (37%) have a negative impression of people with tattoos. This is particularly true for those over the age of 55, where half (50%) have a bad impression of tattooed people, compared to a third (34%) of those aged 25 to 34. Six in ten (58%) have neither a positive or negative impression of tattoos, and 5% have a positive impression.

Jake Gammon, Head of Omnibus APAC at YouGov Omnibus commented: “Though tattoos are becoming more mainstream, they appear to be largely unwelcome in the workplace. Not only do tattooed people leave a bad impression on a significant proportion of Malaysians, they also affect employability.”

***Results based on 1,022 Malaysians surveyed by YouGov Omnibus