tanjinjack
You are talking about job opportunities for AS overseas in advanced countries like US and UK. What is true overseas may not be true in the local context. Unless you don't plan to be based in Malaysia.

My question is: is there the same good demand for AS in Malaysia as the advanced countries? Which other industries like you said employ AS other the insurance industry? I suppose you have to hear this from people in that line.

Well, before the economic recession, A LOT of AS graduates of Malaysia in overseas get absorbed at there, especially for the case of US. But the unemployment issue being at its peak in US, I doubt if there will be some who can secure a job there.

In Malaysia itself, I would think that AS graduates don't work in insurance companies. Some of them join forces in banking and finance.
I don't know, but the ASM (Actuarial Society of Malaysia) claims that we lack actuaries in Malaysia now.

Normally only those who have passed all the actuarial papers are called an actuary. Those people earn hundreds of thousands a month and typically become C?O ie chief something officer. However companies have a whole financial team and employ many people who have just passed a few actuarial papers. They are called acturial trainees, clerks, etc. A friend of mine was employed by Great Eastern right after graduation to be an actuarial trainee. Job is to do calculations (using special programs of course, not like in college) and various paperwork. No not excel or spreadsheets, you don't use that stuff. More to special actuarial programs, stats programs then reporting using word and powerpoint. She says her job is relatively easy and relaxed. Starting pay was 3000 pounds. And there were more than 20 actuary trainees working with her.

if u really wanna do statistics and maths for the rest of ur working life, and ure prepared to take at least 3 external papers, then go ahead,
pharmaceuticals, if ure goin overseas, ull earn a blardy lot.. my friend's sister, work in aus, as lab assistant also rm10k per month, come back mas, 2k one month, 3 months beh tahan go back aussie work. LOL

ARe u sure about the salary range as a lab assistant in aussie? Wow, if it is true, it is really high and rewarding!

But the main problems are the job prospects in the pharmaceutical companies. would it be more pharm companies in ausie? and what are those people working for that companies? Mostly pharmacy degree holder?

Well, in malaysia, u can't expect things like 'pharm company booming around' situation la. Thus, the pay to work as a lab assistent is very low, even worst still, the pay is lower than a teacher's pay.

hey guys
im from malaysia ..migrated to aus in 2005..

just wanna let u guys know that pharmacists earn around 60k when first graduating..although not alot, but if u convert it to malaysian ringgit..it's quite alot. (approx RM180k)..thats around RM15k a month

Actuarists earn alot more in a long run (up to AUD 200k if ure a senior)..thats RM600k..around RM50k a month ..but u start off around AUD 60-70k a year as a graduate.

The employment rate for actuarist and pharmacists here are very close..pharmacist being 99.4% employment right after graduating..and actuarist, virtually 100% employment

however, from what i've heard, it's very difficult to pass actuarial studies in university. thus, if u pass, u'll definitely get a job..most of the time, employers grab you even before you finish uni.
It's mainly an office job = ie no people interaction (which might become boring after a while)..I know some1 who dropped it because it was way too boring.

I've got an offer from ANU to do actuarial studies and another offer+scholarship from monash to do pharmacy/commerce...and right now i'm leaning towards pharmacy/com mainly because i can't stand sitting in an office all my life despite having a good pay.

There are pros and cons for both..hope this helps =]

Awwwww... why did you let down ANU..... T.T

hehe. I am in the same situation as you did.
Monash => Commerce/Economics
ANU => Actuarial Studies

But I chose another one.