Overview

• The labour force continued to expand in the third quarter of 2023, with an increase of 0.6 per cent or 96.5 thousand persons to register 16.82 million persons (Q2 2023: 16.73 million persons). Subsequently, the labour force participation rate (LFPR) rose by 0.1 percentage points and was recorded at 70.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2023 (Q2 2023: 70.0%).
• The number of employed persons remained on a positive trend in the third quarter of 2023, with an increase of 0.6 per cent (+104.8 thousand persons) to post a total of 16.25 million persons (Q2 2023: 16.15 million persons). As for the year-on-year comparison, the number of employed persons rose by 2.7 per cent or 419.8 thousand persons as compared to the third quarter last year (Q3 2022: 15.83 million persons).
• The number of unemployed continued to fall to 573.1 thousand persons, registering a reduction of 1.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2023 (Q2 2023: 581.4 thousand persons). Next, the unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2023 also decreased to 3.4 per cent. On a year-on-year comparison, the unemployment rate also reduced by 0.3 percentage points with a reduction of 38.8 thousand unemployed persons as compared to the same quarter of the preceding year (Q3 2022: 3.7%; 611.8 thousand persons)
• At the national level, the labour force participation rate increased to 70.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2023. Nine states recorded increases in the LFPR, indicating improved labour participation in the market. The highest LFPR was recorded by Selangor with 77.0 per cent, followed by W.P. Putrajaya (75.6%), W.P. Kuala Lumpur (73.4%) and Pulau Pinang (72.5%).
• In terms of the unemployment rate by state, five of the states posted a reduction in the unemployment rate, while six states showed an increasing trend. The lowest unemployment rate during this quarter was recorded by W.P. Putrajaya with 0.5 per cent, followed by Pulau Pinang (2.1%), Kedah and Selangor (2.3%)

The full publication of the Labour Force Survey Report, Third Quarter 2023 can be downloaded through eStatistic Portal.

Released by:

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS MALAYSIA

08 November 2023

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