Malaysia’s unemployment rate inched down to 2.9% in August 2026 from 3.0% in the previous four months, moving away from its highest level since October 2025. The number of unemployed persons decreased to 511.6 thousand from 520.3 thousand in the previous month, while total employment was little changed at 16.87 million, indicating continued softness in the labor market. Meanwhile, the youth unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 years declined to 10.1%, with 291.3 thousand unemployed persons. The labor force was little changed at 17.39 million, with the labor force participation rate edging up to 71.0% from 70.9%. The number of people outside the labor force remained at 7.11 million. source: Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Unemployment Rate in Malaysia decreased to 2.90 percent in August from 3 percent in July of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Malaysia averaged 3.41 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 October of 2026.
Unemployment Rate in Malaysia decreased to 2.90 percent in August from 3 percent in July of 2026. 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.