Malaysia’s June unemployment rate stays at 3pc, 517,800 jobless, says Stats Dept

The unemployment rate in Malaysia remained steady at 3.0 per cent in June 2026, as reported by the Labour Force Statistics and the Second Quarter of 2026 released today. The Statistics Department noted that the number of employed persons grew by 0.01 per cent to 16.83 million in June 2026, up from 16.82 million in May 2026. Meanwhile, the count of unemployed persons increased by 0.9 per cent to 517,800, up from 513,400 the previous month.

The labour force saw a slight rise of 0.04 per cent to 17.34 million persons, staying unchanged from May 2026. The labour force participation rate (LFPR) stayed at 70.9 per cent, not changing from the prior month. Employment was largely concentrated in the services sector, especially in transportation, accommodation, food and beverage services, and wholesale and retail trade activities.

Within the employed category, employees made up 75.0 per cent of total workers, up marginally by 0.02 per cent to 12.61 million in June 2026, compared to 12.61 million in May 2026. Own-account workers saw a minor increase of 0.04 per cent to 3.15 million in June 2026. The labour market's outlook is expected to stay positive through July 2026, driven by stable domestic economic conditions, ongoing investment, and a resilient labour market.

However, persistent uncertainties in global energy markets, geopolitical events, and trade conditions could impact business costs and hiring, according to the release from the Statistics Department.