Overview

• In January 2025, the number of employed persons improved further with a rise of 0.3 per cent (+54.5 thousand), reaching 16.68 million (December[r] 2024: 16.63 million). The employment-to-population ratio, which indicates the ability of an economy to create employment, rose by 0.1 percentage points to 68.5 per cent (December[r] 2024: 68.4%).

• By economic sector, employment in the Services sector showed steady growth, particularly in Accommodation and food & beverage services; Wholesale & retail trade; and Human health and social work activities. Likewise, the Manufacturing, Construction and Agriculture and Mining & quarrying sectors also experienced positive employment growth in January 2025.

• In January 2025, 75.3 per cent of the total employed persons were employees’, registering an increase of 0.3 per cent (+32.0 thousand persons) to 12.56 million persons (December[r] 2024: 12.53 million persons). Similarly, the number of own-account workers rose by 0.7 per cent (+21.6 thousand persons), totalling 3.11 million (December[r] 2024: 3.09 million persons).

• The number of unemployed persons continued to decrease in January 2025, with a reduction of 4.7 thousand persons (-0.9%) to 533.8 thousand persons (December[r] 2024: 538.5 thousand persons). The unemployment rate during the month remained at 3.1 per cent as recorded in the previous month.

• In January 2025, the number of labour force improved further with a rise of 0.3 per cent (+49.8 thousand persons) to record 17.22 million persons (December[r] 2024: 17.17 million). January’s labour force participation rate (LFPR) was unchanged at 70.6 per cent as in the prior month.

• The number of persons outside the labour force in January 2025 slightly decreased by 0.03 per cent (-2.0 thousand persons) to 7.15 million persons (December[r] 2024: 7.16 million persons). The major composition of the outside labour force was housework/ family responsibilities, accounting for 43.6 per cent, followed by the schooling/ training category at 41.8 per cent.

Note: [r] - Revision based on the current population estimates from Population and Housing Census 2020

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

Not found what you looking for? Request data from us, through

Go to eStatistik

email to data[at]dosm.gov.my

call 03 8885 7128 (data request)