Malaysia Jobless Rate Stays at Over Decade-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%.

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%.

Malaysia’s unemployment rate declined to 3.0% in September 2025 from 3.2% a year earlier, marking its lowest level since April 2015 for the fourth consecutive month. The number of unemployed persons fell 5.5% year-on-year to a more than six-year low of 518.6 thousand, while employment rose 3.1% to a record high of 17.03 million. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate increased to 70.9%, maintaining a record peak, from 70.5% in the same month a year earlier