Overview

• In April 2025, the number of employed persons continued to expand, rising by 0.2 per cent (+40.1 thousand persons) to 16.82 million persons compared to 16.78 million persons in March 2025. The employment-to-population ratio, which indicates the ability of an economy to create employment, remained at 68.6 per cent as in the previous month.

• In terms of economic sector, the number of employed persons in the Services sector was on an increasing trend, particularly in Wholesale and retail trade; Accommodation and food & beverage services; and Transportation & storage activities. Likewise, the number of employed persons also increased in the Manufacturing, Construction, Agriculture, and Mining & quarrying sectors.

• The employees’ category constituted 75.1 per cent of the total employed persons in April 2025, continuing to rise by 0.2 per cent (+22.1 thousand persons) to 12.63 million persons compared to 12.61 million in March 2025. Similarly, the number of own-account workers increased by 0.6 per cent (+17.6 thousand persons) to 3.16 million persons from 3.15 million persons in the previous month.

• In April 2025, the number of unemployed persons fell by 0.7 per cent (-3.7 thousand persons) from 529.6 thousand persons in March 2025 to 525.9 thousand persons. April’s unemployment rate hit the lowest rate in a decade at 3.0 per cent (April 2015: 3.0%), dropping by 0.1 percentage points from 3.1 per cent in the previous month.

• The number of labour force was on an uptrend in April, registering a month-on-month increase of 0.2 per cent (+36.4 thousand persons) to 17.34 million persons (March 2025: 17.31 million persons). Accordingly, a higher labour force participation rate (LFPR) was recorded during the month at 70.8 per cent, rising by 0.1 percentage points from the prior month (March 2025: 70.7%).

• The number of persons outside the labour force in April 2025 registered an increase of 0.2 per cent (+11.3 thousand persons) to 7.17 million persons (March 2025: 7.16 million persons). The main reason for being outside the labour force was due to housework/ family responsibilities, with a share of 43.7 per cent, followed by schooling/ training at 41.1 per cent.

Released by:

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS MALAYSIA

11 JUNE 2025

For interviews, press statement and clarification to the media, contact:

Baharudin Mohamad

Public Relation Officer

Email: baharudin[at]dosm.gov.my

Phone: 03 8885 7942

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