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. source: Department of Statistics, Malaysia

Unemployment Rate in Malaysia remained unchanged at 2.90 percent in January. 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 March of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Malaysia remained unchanged at 2.90 percent in January. Unemployment Rate in Malaysia is expected to be 2.90 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
2026-02-11 04:15 AM
Unemployment Rate
Dec 2.9% 2.9% 3.1%
2026-03-11 04:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 2.9% 2.9% 2.8%
2026-04-10 04:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 2.9% 2.9%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 16771.40 16764.30 Thousand Jan 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 70.90 70.80 percent Jan 2026
Population 34.20 34.10 Million Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 510.00 508.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Unemployment Rate 2.90 2.90 percent Jan 2026
Wages 3045.00 2900.00 MYR/Month Dec 2024
Wages in Manufacturing 3590.00 3756.00 MYR/Month Jan 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 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
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