Overview

• The number of employed persons continued its upward trend in March 2024, marking a month-on-month increase of 0.1 per cent (+24.3 thousand persons) to 16.53 million persons, as against 16.51 million persons recorded in February 2024. During the month, the employment-to-population ratio, which indicates the economy’s ability to create employment, remained at 67.9 per cent as in February 2024.
  

• In terms of the economic sector, the Services sector continued to record a positive trend in the number of employed persons, particularly in the Wholesale & retail trade; Food & beverage services; and Information & communication activities. Likewise, the number of employed persons in the Manufacturing, Construction, Mining & quarrying and Agriculture sectors was also on an increasing trend in March 2024.
  

• In March 2024, 75.1 per cent of employed persons were in the employees’ category, registering an uptick of 0.1 per cent (+12.9 thousand persons) to 12.42 million persons compared to 12.41 million persons in February 2024. Similarly, a positive trend was observed in the category of own-account workers, which increased by 0.3 per cent (+8.9 thousand persons) to 3.03 million persons (February 2024: 3.02 million persons). 
  

• The number of unemployed persons in March 2024 changed little to 566.6 thousand persons, with a slight decline of 0.1 per cent (-0.4 thousand persons) as against the prior month (February 2024: 567.0 thousand persons). The unemployment rate during the month remained at 3.3 per cent as in the previous month. 
  

• The number of labour force in March 2024 strengthened further, with a rise of 0.1 per cent or equivalent to 23.8 thousand persons, to record 17.10 million persons (February 2024: 17.07 million persons). Accordingly, the labour force participation rate (LFPR) rose by 0.1 percentage points to 70.3 per cent (February 2024: 70.2%). 
  

• The number of persons outside the labour force in March 2024 continued to decrease, with a marginal decline of 0.003 per cent (-0.2 thousand persons) to 7.23 million persons (February 2024: 7.23 million persons). The major composition of the outside labour force was housework/ family responsibilities at 42.6 per cent, followed by schooling/ training reasons at 41.4 per cent.
  

The full publication of the Labour Force Report, March 2024 can be downloaded through eStatistik Portal

Released by:

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS MALAYSIA

10 MAY 2024

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Baharudin Mohamad

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Email: baharudin[at]dosm.gov.my

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