Unemployment Rate in Malaysia decreased to 3 percent in April from 3.10 percent in March of 2025. This dataset provides - Malaysia Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Malaysia unemployment rate for 2024 was 3.83%, a 0.04% decline from 2023.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Malaysia unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>3.87%</strong>, a <strong>0.06% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Malaysia unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>3.93%</strong>, a <strong>0.71% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Malaysia unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>4.64%</strong>, a <strong>0.1% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

This statistic shows the unemployment rate in Malaysia from 1999 to 2024. In 2024, the unemployment rate in Malaysia was at approximately 3.83 percent. Unemployment in Malaysia Malaysia’s unemployment is relatively low and stable at around three percent which means the population is experiencing close to full employment. The country reached its lowest level of unemployment in 2014, with a rate of 2.85 percent. Malaysia’s vibrant economy is considered one of the strongest in South_East Asia. Together with years of political stability, it has been supporting such a low unemployment rate and good growth rates each year. Industry has been a strong contributor to GDP and currently provides around 30 percent of employment opportunities. But even more - about 50 percent - of GDP is generated by the services sector. Given the country’s strong and growing economy, average GDP per capita is growing at increasing rates as well. However, despite these positive statistics, news reports state that the number of job seekers and those unemployed – the three percent - are generally young people, both graduates and non-graduates, who have had trouble entering the job market. Because of this, the Malaysian government is encouraging companies to open up employment opportunities specifically to young adults. The favorable economic climate should help. Yet, there have also been some complaints about underemployment and gender discrimination within the country.

Key information about Malaysia Unemployment Rate

• Malaysia Unemployment Rate dropped to 3.10% in Jan 2025, from the previously reported figure of 3.20% in Dec 2024.
• Malaysia Unemployment Rate is updated monthly, available from Jan 2010 to Jan 2025, with an average rate of 3.30%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 5.20% in May 2020 and a record low of 2.60% in Sep 2014.
• The data is reported by reported by Department of Statistics.
• In the latest reports, Malaysia Population reached 34.06 million people in Dec 2024.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Malaysia (SLUEM1524ZSMYS) from 1991 to 2024 about Malaysia, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

In 2023, Sabah and W.P. Labuan in East Malaysia had the highest unemployment rate with 7.5 and 6.8 percent respectively. By comparison, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya had the lowest unemployment rate at 0.8 percent.

This data set shows unemployment rate by state in Malaysia for year 1982 until 2020. The statistics is derived from Labour Force Survey (LFS) which is conducted every month using household approach and refers to those between the working age of 15-64 years old. Unemployment rate is the proportion of unemployed population to the total population in the labour force, which measures the percentage of unemployed population in the labour force. W.P. Labuan is gazzeted as a Federal Territory in 1984 while W.P. Putrajaya is gazzeted as a Federal Territory in 2001. The statistics for W.P. Putrajaya for 2001-2010 is treated as part of Selangor. Statistics for W.P. Putrajaya is available separately since 2011 onwards. LFS was not conducted during the years 1991 and 1994.

Malaysia Unemployment Rate: Youth: Age 15 to 30 Years data was reported at 6.300 % in Feb 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 6.300 % for Jan 2025. Malaysia Unemployment Rate: Youth: Age 15 to 30 Years data is updated monthly, averaging 6.900 % from Jan 2016 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 110 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.000 % in May 2020 and a record low of 5.700 % in Feb 2016. Malaysia Unemployment Rate: Youth: Age 15 to 30 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G010: Employment and Unemployment.

In 2023, the youth unemployment rate in Malaysia was at 11.98 percent, a slight increase from 11.7 percent the year prior. The unemployment rate of youth in Malaysia was at its highest in 2020 and 2021, likely caused by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The number of unemployed persons in Malaysia decreased to 533.80 Thousand in January of 2025 from 544.30 Thousand in December of 2024. This dataset provides - Malaysia Unemployed Persons - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Unemployment Rates: 30 to 34 Years: Citizens: Bumiputera data was reported at 1.700 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.000 % for 2016. Unemployment Rates: 30 to 34 Years: Citizens: Bumiputera data is updated yearly, averaging 1.850 % from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2017, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.000 % in 2013 and a record low of 1.400 % in 2014. Unemployment Rates: 30 to 34 Years: Citizens: Bumiputera data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G045: Labour Force Survey: Unemployment Rates: By Age & Ethnic Group.

In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in Malaysia did not change in comparison to the previous year. The youth unemployment rate remained at 12.28 percent. The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce aged 15 to 24 that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.Find more key insights for the youth unemployment rate in countries like Singapore and Timor-Leste.

In 2023, the highest number of unemployed people in Malaysia belonged in the age group between 20 to 24 years old. By comparison, 21,000 unemployed people in the country were those between 45 to 49 years old.

This data set shows unemployment rate by sex and state in Malaysia for year 1982 until 2020. The statistics is derived from Labour Force Survey (LFS) which is conducted every month using household approach and refers to those between the working age of 15-64 years old. Unemployment rate is the proportion of unemployed population to the total population in the labour force, which measures the percentage of unemployed population in the labour force. W.P. Labuan is gazzeted as a Federal Territory in 1984 while W.P. Putrajaya is gazzeted as a Federal Territory in 2001. The statistics for W.P. Putrajaya for 2001-2010 is treated as part of Selangor. Statistics for W.P. Putrajaya is available separately since 2011 onwards. LFS was not conducted during the years 1991 and 1994.

The unemployment rate in Malaysia stands at 3.1 percent according to the latest data from . That reading shows no change from the level of 3.1 percent in the previous month and a decrease from the level of 3.3 percent in the same month of the previous year. The unemployment rate data in Malaysia...

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Malaysia was reported at 3.826 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Malaysia - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Unemployment Rates: 20 to 24 Years: Non Citizens data was reported at 2.500 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.400 % for 2016. Unemployment Rates: 20 to 24 Years: Non Citizens data is updated yearly, averaging 2.450 % from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2017, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.400 % in 2016 and a record low of 2.000 % in 2012. Unemployment Rates: 20 to 24 Years: Non Citizens data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G045: Labour Force Survey: Unemployment Rates: By Age & Ethnic Group.

Unemployment Rates: 35 to 39 Years: Citizens: Indian data was reported at 2.100 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.000 % for 2016. Unemployment Rates: 35 to 39 Years: Citizens: Indian data is updated yearly, averaging 2.050 % from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2017, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.100 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.700 % in 2012. Unemployment Rates: 35 to 39 Years: Citizens: Indian data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G045: Labour Force Survey: Unemployment Rates: By Age & Ethnic Group.

Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force with advanced education) in Malaysia was reported at 3.47 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Malaysia - Unemployment with advanced education (% of total unemployment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Unemployment Rate: Johor data was reported at 2.200 % in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.300 % for Sep 2024. Unemployment Rate: Johor data is updated quarterly, averaging 2.850 % from Mar 2017 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.600 % in Jun 2020 and a record low of 2.200 % in Dec 2024. Unemployment Rate: Johor data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G010: Employment and Unemployment.