Overview

• The labour force expanded by 0.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, adding 46.6 thousand persons to reach a total of 17.23 million persons (Q4 2025[r]: 17.19 million persons). The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) stood at 70.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, maintaining the same level observed in the preceding quarter.
• The number of employed persons continued to register a positive growth in the first quarter of 2026, increasing by 0.3 per cent (+48.5 thousand persons) to16.73 million persons (Q4 2025[r]: 16.68 million persons). On a year-on-year comparison, total employment edged up by 1.0 per cent, or equivalent to an increase of 161.5 thousand persons compared to the first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2025[r]: 16.56 million persons).
• The number of unemployed persons edged down by 0.4 per cent during the first quarter of 2026, reaching 506.5 thousand compared to 508.3 thousand persons in the previous quarter.  Meanwhile, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 2.9 per cent. Year-on-year comparison showed the number of unemployed persons fell by 3.1 per cent (-16.1 thousand persons) compared to first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2025[r]: -29.0 thousand persons), leading to a 2.9 per cent unemployment rate, an improvement from the 3.1 per cent seen in the previous year.
• At the national level, the LFPR remained unchanged at 70.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2026. Five states surpassed the national LFPR, with W.P. Putrajaya recording the highest rate at 79.2 per cent, followed by Selangor (78.0%) and W.P. Kuala Lumpur (76.0%).
• From a state level perspective, eight states recorded unemployment rates below the national level of 2.9 per cent. Throughout the quarter, W.P. Putrajaya registered the lowest unemployment rate at 1.3 per cent, followed by Pahang at 1.9 per cent, as well as Selangor and Melaka at 2.0 per cent.

Note: [r] - The Quarterly Labour Force Survey Statistics from first quarter of 2024 were revised based on the latest current population estimates.

The full publication of the Labour Force Survey Report, First Quarter 2026 can be downloaded through eStatistic Portal.

Released by:

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS MALAYSIA

12th MAY 2026

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