Malaysia’s unemployment rate stood at 2.9% in March 2026, remaining unchanged for the fifth straight month and holding at its lowest level since November 2014. The number of unemployed persons rose marginally by 0.4% month-on-month to 509 thousand, while total employment edged up by 0.1% to 16.8 million. Job growth continued to be driven primarily by the services sector, with notable gains in accommodation and food and beverage services, information and communication activities, and transportation and storage. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate was unchanged at 70.9%. For Q1 2026, the unemployment rate ticked down to 2.9% from 3% in Q4 2025. Looking ahead, Malaysia’s labour market is expected to remain broadly stable, supported by strong domestic fundamentals, ongoing investment activity, and structural reforms. However, employment growth may moderate amid rising external uncertainties, particularly from global energy developments, trade dynamics, and geopolitical tensions. source: Department of Statistics, Malaysia

Unemployment Rate in Malaysia remained unchanged at 2.90 percent in March. Unemployment Rate in Malaysia averaged 3.42 percent from 1998 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 5.30 percent in May of 2020 and a record low of 2.70 percent in August of 2012. This page provides - Malaysia Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Malaysia Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Malaysia remained unchanged at 2.90 percent in March. Unemployment Rate in Malaysia is expected to be 3.10 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Malaysia Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 3.10 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-10 04:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 2.9% 2.9% 2.9%
2026-05-12 04:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 2.9% 2.9% 2.9%
2026-06-11 04:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 2.9%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 16804.00 16790.90 Thousand Mar 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 70.90 70.90 percent Mar 2026
Population 34.20 34.06 Million Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 509.00 507.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployment Rate 2.90 2.90 percent Mar 2026
Wages 3045.00 2900.00 MYR/Month Dec 2024
Wages in Manufacturing 3547.00 3550.00 MYR/Month Mar 2026


Malaysia Unemployment Rate
In Malaysia, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.90 2.90 5.30 2.70 1998 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Malaysia Jobless Rate Remains Lowest Since 2014
Malaysia’s unemployment rate stood at 2.9% in March 2026, remaining unchanged for the fifth straight month and holding at its lowest level since November 2014. The number of unemployed persons rose marginally by 0.4% month-on-month to 509 thousand, while total employment edged up by 0.1% to 16.8 million. Job growth continued to be driven primarily by the services sector, with notable gains in accommodation and food and beverage services, information and communication activities, and transportation and storage. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate was unchanged at 70.9%. For Q1 2026, the unemployment rate ticked down to 2.9% from 3% in Q4 2025. Looking ahead, Malaysia’s labour market is expected to remain broadly stable, supported by strong domestic fundamentals, ongoing investment activity, and structural reforms. However, employment growth may moderate amid rising external uncertainties, particularly from global energy developments, trade dynamics, and geopolitical tensions.
2026-05-12
Malaysia Jobless Rate Steady at 2.9%
Malaysia’s unemployment rate stood at 2.9% in February 2026, remaining unchanged for the fourth consecutive month and holding at its lowest level since November 2014. The number of unemployed persons declined by 0.6% from the previous month to 506.8 thousand. Meanwhile, employment rose by 0.1% to 16.79 million, keeping the employment-to-population ratio at 68.8%. Job growth was mainly driven by the services sector, particularly wholesale and retail trade, followed by accommodation and food & beverage services and information and communication activities. By employment status, employees accounted for 75.0% of total employment, increasing slightly to 12.59 million, while own-account workers also rose to 3.13 million. The labor force expanded by 0.1% to 17.30 million, with the labor force participation rate steady at 70.9%. Meanwhile, the number of persons outside the labor force edged down to 7.10 million, mainly due to housework or family responsibilities and schooling or training.
2026-04-10
Malaysia Jobless Rate Lowest in Over Decade
Malaysia’s unemployment rate fell to 2.9% in January 2026 from 3.1% in the same month last year, reaching its lowest level since November 2014. The number of unemployed persons dropped by 4.5% from a year ago to 509.6 thousand, and those outside the labor force declined by 0.7% to 7.11 million, mainly due to housework/family responsibilities and schooling/training. Additionally, the youth unemployment rate, aged between 15 to 24 years old, edged down to 10.2% from 10.3%. Meanwhile, employment rose by 0.5% to 16.77 million, lifting the employment rate to 68.8% from 68.5% in January 2025. The number of employed persons in the services sector continued to grow steadily, particularly in wholesale & retail trade, followed by accommodation and food & beverage service activities, and transportation and storage activities. The labor force participation rate also increased to a new record high of 70.9%, from 70.6% a year earlier.
2026-03-11