Ipsos poll: Malaysians prioritise jobs and homes over traditional milestones

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — Malaysians largely mirror global views on success, prioritising stable employment and home ownership, yet they place a significantly higher premium on marriage and parenthood as life milestones, according to a new Ipsos report.

The Ipsos Life Aspirations 2026 report reveals that two in three Malaysians view stability and security as the primary markers of a successful life. Specifically, 67 per cent of Malaysians identify a stable job as essential, compared to 65 per cent globally, while 60 per cent view home ownership as a key milestone, slightly above the global average of 58 per cent.

The findings, based on a survey of 501 Malaysians aged 18 to 74, highlight a clear cultural emphasis on family.

Parenthood and marriage are viewed as markers of success by 47 per cent and 42 per cent of Malaysians, respectively, far outpacing global figures of 31 per cent and 25 per cent.

However, a generational divide is emerging. While the fundamentals of success remain broadly similar, Gen Z Malaysians are placing less emphasis on traditional family milestones than their Millennial counterparts.

Both generations agree on the primacy of career stability, with 69 per cent of Millennials and 68 per cent of Gen Z citing a full-time, stable job as the most important marker of success. Home ownership follows closely, cited by 64 per cent of Millennials and 55 per cent of Gen Z.

The gap in family aspirations is more pronounced: only 32 per cent of Gen Z respondents view marriage as a marker of success, compared to 58 per cent of Millennials. Similarly, only 35 per cent of Gen Z value parenthood as a milestone, against 50 per cent of Millennials.

Ipsos Malaysia managing director Arun Menon noted that this shift aligns with wider demographic trends, as Malaysians increasingly delay marriage and parenthood in favour of education, career progression, and financial security.

The most striking disparity, however, lies in home ownership. While 79 per cent of respondents aspire to own a home, only 46 per cent have achieved this goal, underscoring the persistent affordability crisis in the local housing market.

“Around three in four Malaysians aspire to own a home, yet fewer than half have achieved it, echoing the wider affordability challenges in Malaysia’s housing market,” Arun said.

He added that these findings suggest younger Malaysians are not necessarily redefining success, but are instead reordering their priorities, securing financial and personal stability before pursuing traditional life milestones.