MALAYSIA’S unemployment rate has risen to 3.0 per cent in April 2026, with the number of unemployed individuals increasing to 511,800, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the country’s labour market continued to record moderate growth during the month under review, reflecting a broadly stable economic environment.
He said the labour force rose by 0.1 per cent to 17.33 million people, compared with 17.31 million in March 2026, while the labour force participation rate remained unchanged at 70.9 per cent.
Employment also continued to expand slightly, with the number of employed persons increasing by 0.1 per cent to 16.82 million in April 2026 from 16.80 million the previous month.
Mohd Uzir added that employees continued to make up the bulk of total employment, accounting for 75 per cent in April 2026.
The category rose marginally by 0.05 per cent to 12.61 million people, while own-account workers also continued their upward trajectory, increasing by 0.2 per cent to 3.15 million.
Providing further breakdowns of the labour market, Mohd Uzir said active unemployed persons—defined as individuals who are available for work and actively seeking employment—accounted for 79.5 per cent of total unemployment.
This segment rose by 0.3 per cent to 407,100 people. Of this group, 63.9 per cent had been unemployed for less than three months, while 5.0 per cent were classified as long-term unemployed, having been without work for more than a year.
He also noted an increase in inactive unemployment, which refers to individuals who believe no jobs are available, rising by 1.5 per cent to 104,700 people.
“The unemployment rate among youths aged 15 to 24 remained at 10.2 per cent in April 2026, with a total of 290,800 unemployed youths, while the unemployment rate for youths aged 15 to 30 rose by 0.1 percentage point to 6.3 per cent, with 394,700 unemployed youths recorded for the month,” he said.
Looking ahead, Mohd Uzir said the country’s labour market outlook remains broadly positive in the near term, underpinned by resilient domestic fundamentals, ongoing investment activity and continued development initiatives, although external risks remain a concern.
Looking ahead, Mohd Uzir said Malaysia’s economic and labour market outlook remains positive in the near term, supported by strong domestic fundamentals, sustained investment momentum and ongoing development initiatives.
However, he cautioned that global uncertainties stemming from energy crises, geopolitical developments and external demand conditions could continue to affect economic growth and labour market performance.
“In the coming period, efforts to strengthen business confidence, enhance workforce adaptability and stimulate productivity growth will continue to play an important role in ensuring the country’s economy and labour market remain resilient,” he added. - June 11, 2026
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