Malaysia’s unemployment rate declined to 2.9% in December 2025 from 3.1% a year earlier, reaching its lowest level since November 2014. The number of unemployed persons dropped 3.9% yoy to a six-year low of 517.7 thousand, while employment rose 3.0% to a fresh record peak of 17.13 million, lifting the employment rate to 68.9% from 68.4%. 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 information & communication activities. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate climbed to 70.9%, maintaining a record high, from 70.6% in the same month a year earlier. The youth unemployment fell to 10.1% from 10.4%, staying at the lowest level since January 2020. The country’s labour market in the upcoming months is projected to transition into 2026 with strengthened foundations driven by a combination of fiscal, tourism, and employment initiatives. source: Department of Statistics, Malaysia

Unemployment Rate in Malaysia remained unchanged at 2.90 percent in December. Unemployment Rate in Malaysia averaged 3.42 percent from 1998 until 2025, 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 February of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Malaysia remained unchanged at 2.90 percent in December. Unemployment Rate in Malaysia is expected to be 3.00 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
2026-01-09 04:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Nov 2.9% 3.0% 3.0%
2026-02-11 04:15 AM
Unemployment Rate
Dec 2.9% 2.9% 3.1%
2026-03-11 04:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 2.9%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 17129.50 17092.90 Thousand Dec 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 70.90 70.90 percent Dec 2025
Population 34.20 34.10 Million Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 517.70 518.40 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 2.90 2.90 percent Dec 2025
Wages 3045.00 2900.00 MYR/Month Dec 2024
Wages in Manufacturing 3756.00 3491.00 MYR/Month Dec 2025


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 - 2025 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Malaysia Jobless Rate Lowest Since 2014
Malaysia’s unemployment rate declined to 2.9% in December 2025 from 3.1% a year earlier, reaching its lowest level since November 2014. The number of unemployed persons dropped 3.9% yoy to a six-year low of 517.7 thousand, while employment rose 3.0% to a fresh record peak of 17.13 million, lifting the employment rate to 68.9% from 68.4%. 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 information & communication activities. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate climbed to 70.9%, maintaining a record high, from 70.6% in the same month a year earlier. The youth unemployment fell to 10.1% from 10.4%, staying at the lowest level since January 2020. The country’s labour market in the upcoming months is projected to transition into 2026 with strengthened foundations driven by a combination of fiscal, tourism, and employment initiatives.
2026-02-11
Malaysia Jobless Rate Hits Over 11-Year Low
Malaysia’s unemployment rate declined to 2.9% in November 2025 from 3.2% a year earlier, reaching its lowest level since November 2014. The number of unemployed persons fell 4.3% year-on-year to a near six-year low of 518.4 thousand, while employment rose 3.1% to a record high of 17.09 million, lifting the employment rate to 68.8% from 68.3%. The number of employed persons in the services sector continued to show steady growth, as did employment in the agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and mining & quarrying sectors. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate increased to 70.9%, maintaining a record peak, from 70.5% in the same month a year earlier. However, youth unemployment (ages 15–24) declined to 10.1% in November from 10.4% a year earlier, staying at the lowest level since January 2020 for the third straight month. In October 2025, the unemployment rate stood at 3.0%.
2026-01-09
Malaysia Jobless Rate Stays at Over Decade-Low
Malaysia’s unemployment rate held steady for the sixth consecutive month at 3.0% in October 2025, remaining its lowest level since April 2015. The number of unemployed persons inched up 0.1% month-on-month to 518.9 thousand, with 64.5% unemployed for less than three months and 5% jobless for over a year. Employment rose 0.2% to 17.06 million, led by steady gains in the services sector, followed by agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. The labor force also increased by 0.2% month-on-month to 17.58 million, while keeping the labor force participation rate at 70.9%. Meanwhile, the number of people outside the labor force edged up to 7.22 million from 7.21 million in the previous month. Housework or family responsibilities accounted for 43.6% of this group, while schooling and training made up 40.7%.
2025-12-10