Overview

LABOUR FORCE IN MALAYSIA

Labour force participation rate 68.9 per cent and unemployment rate 3.3 per cent

Labour force and employed persons in Malaysia recorded a growth of 1.9 per cent and 2.1 per cent as compared to the third quarter of 2018 to 15.67 million persons and 15.16 million persons respectively.

Quarter on quarter comparison showed that both labour force and employed persons increased 0.5 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively as compared to the previous quarter. Labour force participation rate (LFPR) in this quarter rose 0.1 percentage point as compared to the second quarter of 2019 to 68.9 per cent. Hence, another 31.1 per cent of the working age population were outside the labour force.

The unemployment rate in this quarter remained at 3.3 per cent as compared to second quarter of 2019. The total number of unemployed persons recorded at 512.1 thousand persons, decreased 2.3 per cent as compared to the same quarter of previous year. (Chart 2)

Female LFPR increased 0.2 percentage point to 56.0 per cent

Female LFPR in the third quarter of 2019 was 56.0 per cent at the national level, rose 0.2 percentage points as compared to previous quarter. Female LFPR in the labour market for prime age1 25-34 years (73.6%), 35-44 years (69.4%) and 45-54 years (60.1%) were higher as compared to the female LFPR at the national level.

Male LFPR in this quarter increased by 0.1 percentage points to 80.9 per cent in this quarter as compared to second quarter 2019. The age group that recorded more than 90 per cent of LFPR were 25-34 years (94.2%), 35-44 years (97.6%) and 45-54 years (93.9%) (Chart 3).

[1]  International Labour Organization (ILO) defines prime age as population aged 25–54 years.

Female represented 39.2 per cent of the labour force

In the third quarter of 2019, the labour force was represented by 60.8 per cent male (9.53 million) and 39.2 per cent female (6.15 million). The number of labour force for both male and female increased by 36,600 persons and 38,900 persons respectively as compared to the second quarter of 2019.

The detailed information and technical notes are published in the Labour Force Survey Report, Malaysia, Second Quarter 2019. This report is accessible and downloadable free of charge through the eStatistik application in DOSM web page, www.dosm.gov.my.

Released By:

DATO' SRI DR. MOHD UZIR MAHIDIN
CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
11 November 2019

Contact person:
 

Rohaida binti Mohamad 
Public Relation Officer
Strategic Communication and International Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : rohaida.mohamad[at]dosm.gov.my

For interviews, press statement and clarification to the media, contact:

Baharudin Mohamad

Public Relation Officer

Email: baharudin[at]dosm.gov.my

Phone: 03 8885 7942

Not found what you looking for? Request data from us, through

Go to eStatistik

email to data[at]dosm.gov.my

call 03 8885 7128 (data request)