Overview

Introduction

This publication presents the labour demand statistics based on the Quarterly Employment Survey conducted on formal private sector establishments encompassing major economic activities namely Agriculture, Mining & Quarrying, Manufacturing, Construction and Services. The principal statistics of employment presented in this report are jobs, filled jobs, vacancies and jobs created by economic activity and skills category.

The labour demand is consistently rising in Q3 2024 as the number of jobs expanded by 1.2 per cent compared to the same quarter of the preceding year with a total of 9.01 million jobs (Q3 2023: 8.90 million). The number of filled jobs reached 8.82 million corresponding to the rate of filled jobs at 97.9 per cent. Besides, the vacancy rate stood at 2.1 per cent, indicating a total of 191.8 thousand unfilled jobs as compared to 190.9 thousand in Q3 2023. Jobs created in the economic sector posted a decrease of 0.6 per cent, creating a total of 31.8 thousand new jobs, edge down from 32.0 thousand in the same quarter of previous year.  

Labour Demand by Skill

Regarding the distribution by skills category, semi-skilled category made up the biggest share, contributing over than half of the total for all indicators. This was trailed by skilled and low-skilled categories.

The skilled category signified an upward trend this quarter, rose to 2.25 million jobs, a 1.5 per cent year-on-year increase (+33 thousand) compared to 2.22 million jobs in Q3 2023. Out of this, 2.21 million jobs were filled, accounting a rate of filled jobs at 97.9 per cent whereas the vacancy rate was 2.1 per cent, which is correspond to 47.5 thousand vacancies. Other than that, the number of jobs created declined by 9.1 per cent, totalling to 8.4 thousand jobs compared to the same quarter of preceding year.

In the current quarter, the semi-skilled category unfolded as the biggest contributor with 62.5 per cent or 5.64 million jobs. The rate of filled jobs steadied at 98.1 per cent, accounting for 5.53 million filled jobs while the vacancy rate stood at 1.9 per cent with 107.1 thousand vacancies. Moreover, the number of jobs created surged by 3.5 per cent or equivalent to 20.1 thousand (Q3 2023: 19.4 thousand)

Concerning labour demand in the low-skilled category, the number of jobs increased by 0.2 per cent to record 1.12 million jobs. Concurrently, 1.09 million jobs were filled, marking a filled jobs rate at 96.7 per cent while 37.2 thousand vacancies were available, representing a vacancy rate of 3.3 per cent. Additionally, there were 3.3 thousand new jobs created with 10.3 per cent of total jobs created.

Labour Demand by Economic Sector

Scrutinising by economic sector, Services dominated with a percentage share of 51.8 per cent (4.67 million) of total jobs followed by Manufacturing at 27.6 per cent (2.49 million). Moreover, Construction sector accounted for 14.1 per cent (1.27 million), whereas Agriculture sector contributed 5.6 per cent (501 thousand). Mining & Quarrying sector came last with 0.9 per cent or 80 thousand jobs.

In fact, the Services sector was also the main contributor for filled jobs with 52.7 per cent, representing a total of 4.65 million jobs. The Manufacturing sector followed with 27.0 per cent share, contributing 2.38 million of total filled jobs. At the same time, the Construction and Agriculture sector accounted for 14.1 per cent (1.24 million) and 5.3 per cent (469 thousand) respectively.

Regarding jobs vacancy, the Manufacturing sector led with 56.9 per cent, marking a total of 109.1 thousand vacancies available. Followed suit were the Agriculture and Construction sectors with contribution of 16.7 per cent (32.0 thousand) and 13.2 per cent (25.4 thousand) respectively.

In addition, the Services sector was the main contributor in jobs created for this quarter, with 49.5 per cent (15.7 thousand) of total jobs created whereas Manufacturing sector at 34.4 per cent (10.9 thousand), followed by Construction at 11.5 per cent (3.7 thousand).

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