Overview

• The labour force continued to expand in the first quarter of 2024, with an increase of 0.3 per cent or 50.6 thousand persons to register 16.96 million persons (Q4 2023: 16.91 million persons). Subsequently, the labour force participation rate (LFPR) increased by 0.1 percentage points to post 70.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2024 (Q4 2023: 70.1%).
  

• The number of employed persons further increased in the first quarter of 2024, with an increase of 0.3 per cent (+54.5 thousand persons) to register 16.40 million persons (Q4 2023: 16.35 million persons). In terms of year-on-year comparison, the number of employed persons increased by 2.1 per cent or 339.2 thousand persons as compared to the same quarter of the previous year (Q1 2023: 16.06 million persons).
  

• In the first quarter of 2024, the number of unemployed persons continued to drop by 0.7 per cent or equivalent to a reduction of 4.0 thousand persons to record 561.1 thousand persons (Q4 2023: 565.0 thousand persons). The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 per cent as previous quarter. Year-on-year comparison, the unemployment rate reduced by 0.2 percentage points (Q1 2023: 3.5%).
  

• At the national level, the labour force participation rate (LFPR) increased to 70.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2024. Ten states recorded increases in the LFPR, indicating more labour participation in the economy. The highest LFPR was posted by Selangor (76.3%), followed by W.P. Kuala Lumpur (74.1%), Pulau Pinang (73.4%), W.P. Putrajaya (72.9%) and Johor (71.3%).
  

• In terms of unemployment rate, six states were recorded above national level, where the highest unemployment rate in this quarter is Sabah with 7.9 per cent, followed by W.P. Labuan (7.2%) and Terengganu (4.2%). Among the lowest unemployment rates were recorded by Pulau Pinang (1.8%), Kedah (1.9%), Perlis (2.0%), Selangor (2.0%), and W.P. Putrajaya (2.1%)
  

The full publication of the Labour Force Survey Report, First Quarter 2024 can be downloaded through eStatistic Portal.

Released by:

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS MALAYSIA

10 May 2024

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Baharudin Mohamad

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