Pet humanization is reshaping Southeast Asia's job market, generating new roles to meet modern pet care trends.
While the regional pet food industry employs tens of thousands of people in manufacturing, supply chain and product development, new jobs related to pet tech, digital commerce, regulatory compliance, alternative protein and materials sourcing are in high demand.
QA/QC experts needed
Thailand and Vietnam are hiring hotspots for manufacturing and production because of their massive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and export hubs, and both urgently need quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) experts, sourcing specialists and food technology formulators.
Peak Recruitment, a global recruitment firm for the food and agriculture industries, said the need for sourcing managers for certified byproducts, life cycle assessment analysts and alternative protein developers is evident at pet food conferences in Bangkok.
Driven by pet humanization, feed-to-food conglomerates operating in the Philippines, such as Aboitiz Foods (Pilmico) and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), often need specialized animal nutritionists, veterinary consultants and food technologists to design premium, breed-specific diets with appealing textures, shelf-stable recipes and palatable flavors.
Regulatory and compliance officers are also in high demand, because navigating the varied and frequently changing import and export laws and product registration rules across Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries is highly complex.
As the local market for premium pet food explodes, companies in the region need talent to move products off the shelves — a job that requires commercial and brand management experts and seasoned e-commerce managers.
Specialized skills in short supply
However, many of these skill sets are hard to find. According to Peak Recruitment, the following are in short supply:
- Process engineers with extrusion, drying and coating, and wet retort expertise.
- Regulatory affairs and QA talent familiar with Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM) style labels, export documentation and traceability systems.
- Nutrition and research and development (R&D) scientists specializing in functional diets (digestive, skin and weight), cat-first formulation and palatant optimization.
- Sustainability and sourcing leaders.
- Digital commerce and category managers for Chinese and Southeast Asian marketplaces.
- Business-to-business (B2B) OEM and original design manufacturer (ODM) program managers for U.S. and European Union customers visiting Asia-Pacific suppliers during trade shows.
Peak Recruitment said China, Thailand and the Philippines currently have the greatest need for pet food talent. China stands out for its sheer size, while Thailand, the world's second-largest pet food exporter, has more than 300 pet food brands that need supply chain and export operations expertise.
In the Philippines, where 67% of households own a pet and dog ownership is the highest in the Asia-Pacific region, an extensive sales force is essential to cover more territory.
