Overview

• The number of employed persons in December 2023 continued to show consistent growth and rose by 0.2 per cent (+26.6 thousand persons), reaching a total of 16.46 million persons (November 2023: 16.43 million persons). In December, the employment-to-population ratio, which indicates the ability of an economy to create employment, remained at 67.8 per cent as in the previous month (November 2023: 67.8%).
  

• In terms of economic sectors, Services sector continued to record a rise in the number of employed persons, notably in Information & communication; Food & beverage services; and Transportation & storage activities. A similar trend in the number of employed persons was also observed in the Manufacturing, Construction and Mining & quarrying sectors in December 2023. In the meantime, the number of employed persons in the Agriculture sector continued to decline during the month.
  

• The total number of employed persons in December 2023 was primarily comprised of employees’ category, accounting for 75.2 per cent. This category went up by 0.1 per cent (+12.3 thousand persons) to 12.38 million persons (November 2023: 12.37 million persons). Similarly, the rising trend was also seen in the own-account workers category, which increased by 0.3 per cent (+9.5 thousand persons) to 3.0 million persons (November 2023: 2.99 million persons). 
  

• The number of unemployed persons in December 2023 decreased further, registering a month-on-month decline of 0.2 per cent (-1.4 thousand persons) to 567.8 thousand persons from 569.2 thousand persons last month. The unemployment rate in December stood at 3.3 per cent as recorded in November 2023. 
  

• The number of labour force remained increasing in December 2023, with an addition of 0.1 per cent (+25.1 thousand persons) to register 17.03 million persons (November 2023: 17.0 million persons). Accordingly, a higher labour force participation rate (LFPR) was recorded during the month at 70.2 per cent (November 2023: 70.1%). 
  

• The number of persons outside the labour force during the month registered a decline of 1.1 thousand persons (-0.02%) to 7.23 million persons (November 2023: 7.24 million persons). The main reason for the outside labour force was due to housework/ family responsibilities with 42.6 per cent, followed by schooling / training (41.2%).
  

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