In 2023, approximately 15.81 million people were in employment in Malaysia, out of a labor force of around 16 million people. In that year, the

Forecast: Number of Employees in IT Services in Malaysia 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

In 2023, there were around 833,000 people employed in the food and beverages services industry in Malaysia. This was an increase of around 10,000 employees compared to the previous year. The industry saw a decrease in the number of employed people during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in 2020 and 2021.

In 2023, there were more than 25,600 people employed in the manufacturing of motor vehicles in Malaysia, an increase from around 25,300 people in the previous year. The number of employees in motor vehicle manufacturing in Malaysia has been increasing since 2020.

Key information about Malaysia Employed Persons

• Malaysia Employed Persons was reported at 16,684,400.000 Person in Jan 2025
• It recorded an increase from the previous number of 16,629,900.000 Person for Dec 2024
• Malaysia Employed Persons data is updated monthly, averaging 14,366,800.000 Person from Jan 2009 to Jan 2025, with 193 observations
• The data reached an all-time high of 16,747,000.000 Person in Nov 2024 and a record low of 10,726,600.000 Person in Mar 2009
• Malaysia Employed Persons data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table: Employed Persons: Monthly

Forecast: Number of Employees in ICT Trade in Malaysia 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Malaysia BTS: Current: Manufacturing: Number of Employees: Better data was reported at 20.859 % in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 17.617 % for Sep 2024. Malaysia BTS: Current: Manufacturing: Number of Employees: Better data is updated quarterly, averaging 20.050 % from Dec 2009 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33.900 % in Sep 2017 and a record low of 8.491 % in Jun 2020. Malaysia BTS: Current: Manufacturing: Number of Employees: Better data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.S009: Business Tendency Survey: Actual: By Industry.

In 2023, there were approximately 2.8 million people employed in the manufacturing industry in Malaysia. The number of people employed in this industry has been steadily rising, apart from the slight decline that occurred in 2020.

Malaysia SOCSO: Number of Registered Employees: Kuala Lumpur data was reported at 1,609,383.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,571,330.000 Person for 2016. Malaysia SOCSO: Number of Registered Employees: Kuala Lumpur data is updated yearly, averaging 2,251,761.000 Person from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,663,873.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 1,571,330.000 Person in 2016. Malaysia SOCSO: Number of Registered Employees: Kuala Lumpur data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G058: Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) Statistics.

Malaysia SOCSO: Number of Registered Employees: Selangor data was reported at 1,696,430.000 Person in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,505,256.000 Person for 2015. Malaysia SOCSO: Number of Registered Employees: Selangor data is updated yearly, averaging 2,035,572.000 Person from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2016, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,505,256.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 1,403,823.000 Person in 1997. Malaysia SOCSO: Number of Registered Employees: Selangor data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G059: Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) Statistics.

Abstract

Malaysia Employee Survey was conducted as part of 2007 Malaysia Productivity of the Investment Climate Private Enterprise Survey (PICS). The research aimed to capture employees' perspectives on work environment and dynamics. The survey covered 10615 manufacturing workers and 2918 services sector employees.

Malaysia PICS 2007 was a collaborative effort of the Malaysian Government and the World Bank. The research targeted 1115 businesses working in manufacturing sector and 303 enterprises in services sector.

The sample for the Employee Survey was randomly selected from establishments participating in Malaysia PICS 2007.

Overall, PICS 2007 aimed to achieve following objectives: - Benchmark productivity, the investment climate, competitiveness, and growth in Malaysia; - Identify the key constraints to competitiveness as perceived by firms in the manufacturing and selected business support services sectors; - Highlight the key concerns regarding regulatory burden, skills shortages and weak innovation capabilities; - Enable the analysis of firm performance focusing on determining how investment climate constraints affect productivity and job creation in selected sectors.

Geographic coverage

National

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The sample for the Employee Survey was selected from the establishments covered in 2007 Malaysia Productivity of the Investment Climate Private Enterprise Survey (PICS).

Ten full-time workers were sampled from each establishment. Workers were interviewed only if the manager of the business did not mind. If the manager had no objections, enumerators asked for a complete list of full-time employees of the establishment from the personnel manager at about the time the human resources module of PICS 2007 was being completed. The personnel manager was asked to choose any one worker from the list. After that enumerators picked employees at fixed regular intervals until a sample of 10 workers was reached. A worker who could not be interviewed was replaced by another randomly chosen employee.

Malaysia PICS 2007 covered establishments in the manufacturing and business support services sectors. For manufacturing industries, the economic activities were defined according to Divisions under the Malaysia Standard Industrial Classification (MSIC) 2000 (2-digit codes), which is identical to the United Nations Statistical Division's International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC Rev. 3) up to the 4-digit level. In Malaysia PICS 2007, 12 manufacturing industries and 5 business support services sectors were surveyed.

The sampling frame was extracted from the Central Register of Establishments (SIDAP) maintained by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia. The register was updated using information supplied by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM), Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the 2006 Economic Census data, and several regular surveys or censuses conducted by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia (DOSM).

For the manufacturing sector, only establishments with more than 10 employees were covered. For the business support services sector, two employment thresholds were used. Only establishments with more than 10 employees were covered for Information Technology, Telecommunications, and Advertising & Marketing, while only establishments with more than 20 employees were covered for Accounting & Related Services and Business Logistics.

Single-stage stratified systematic sampling was used in drawing samples. The sampling frame was stratified by sector, region, state, and industry. To select the sample, for each sector, establishments within each industry, region and area combination were arranged according to the value of output. Selection was then carried out independently for each sub-stratum based on a linear systematic method.

Malaysia PICS 2007 covered 6 regions: 4 regions in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 regions in East Malaysia. Within each of the 6 regions, states and areas to be covered were selected based on the concentration of establishments.

For details on the Malaysia PICS 2007 sampling coverage, sampling methodology and sampling frame, please review "Sampling Methodology of Malaysia PICS 2007" and "Sample Coverage and Distribution of Malaysia PICS 2007" in "Technical Documents" folder.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The following survey instruments are available: - Manufacturing Sector Employee Questionnaire - Business Supporting Servicers Employee Questionnaire.

Malaysia Banking System: Number of Employee data was reported at 118,851.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 118,465.000 Person for 2016. Malaysia Banking System: Number of Employee data is updated yearly, averaging 100,414.000 Person from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2017, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 126,902.000 Person in 2012 and a record low of 84,341.000 Person in 1994. Malaysia Banking System: Number of Employee data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank Negara Malaysia. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.KB079: Banking System Indicators.

Around 640,000 people were employed in the electrical and electronic products industry in Malaysia in 2023. In terms of the number of people employed, this industry has been increasing throughout the years.

Telekom Malaysia Bhd reported 19.5K in Employees for its fiscal year ending in December of 2022. Data for Telekom Malaysia Bhd | T - Employees Total Number including historical, tables and charts were last updated by Trading Economics this last March in 2025.

This chart provides a detailed overview of the number of Malaysia online retailers by Number of Employee. Most Malaysia stores' Number of Employee are Less than 10, there are 4.24K stores, which is 78.49% of total. In second place, 268 stores' Number of Employee are 20 to 50, which is 4.96% of total. Meanwhile, 208 stores' Number of Employee are 10 to 20, which is 3.85% of total. This breakdown reveals insights into Malaysia stores distribution, providing a comprehensive picture of the performance and efficient of online retailer.

Malaysia BTS: Current: Insurance: Number of Employees data was reported at 22.200 % in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 33.300 % for Jun 2018. Malaysia BTS: Current: Insurance: Number of Employees data is updated quarterly, averaging 22.200 % from Mar 2012 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 70.000 % in Jun 2012 and a record low of -25.000 % in Jun 2017. Malaysia BTS: Current: Insurance: Number of Employees data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.S007: Business Tendency Survey: Actual: By Industry.

In 2023, around 382,000 people were employed in the finance and insurance industry in Malaysia. This indicates a steady increase in the number of people employed in this industry since 2015, where 349,000 people were employed.

Maxis BHD reported 3.75K in Employees for its fiscal year ending in December of 2022. Data for Maxis BHD | MAXIS - Employees Total Number including historical, tables and charts were last updated by Trading Economics this last March in 2025.

Approximately 1.19 million people were employed in the real estate and business services industry in Malaysia in 2023. This indicates a slight increase in the number of employees from the previous year.

Malaysia BTS: Current: Hotel: Number of Employees: Same data was reported at 61.905 % in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 68.182 % for Sep 2024. Malaysia BTS: Current: Hotel: Number of Employees: Same data is updated quarterly, averaging 60.050 % from Dec 2009 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 91.600 % in Dec 2018 and a record low of 32.000 % in Mar 2023. Malaysia BTS: Current: Hotel: Number of Employees: Same data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.S009: Business Tendency Survey: Actual: By Industry.