{
  "id": 8406020,
  "title": "68,177 people lost jobs between January and Sept 16",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/68-177-people-lost-jobs-between-january-and-sept-16",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-19T07:29:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1536087/68177-people-lost-jobs-between-january-and-sept-16"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Between January and September 16 this year, 68,177 workers lost their jobs, marking a 15,196 increase from the same period last year. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir reported that workers in manufacturing and wholesale and retail sectors were most impacted. Despite the increase, the labour market remains resilient overall, with the labour force growing to 17.37 million and the number of employed people reaching 16.85 million by July. The labour force participation rate stayed at 70.9 per cent. The unemployment rate remained steady at three per cent, involving approximately 520,300 unemployed individuals. Akmal emphasized the country's stable labour market, despite sector-specific pressures. The Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) implemented job placement initiatives through the Employment Insurance System (EIS) and MYFutureJobs portal, assisting 143,653 workers in securing new jobs from January to September 11. This indicates that government efforts extend beyond temporary support, aiming to help workers find new employment. While the labour market remains stable, Akmal stressed the need for ongoing attention to address job losses in specific sectors.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 68,177 workers lost their jobs between January and Sept 16 this year, an increase of 15,196 from the same period last year.",
  "key_points": [
    "Manufacturing and wholesale/retail sectors were most impacted by job losses.",
    "Government initiatives through EIS and MYFutureJobs helped 143,653 workers find new jobs."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}