{
  "id": 9717510,
  "title": "DOSM: Labour market stability, high‑tech investments support Malaysia’s economic outlook",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/dosm-labour-market-stability-high-tech-investments-support-malaysias",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-25T06:41:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2026/09/18/dosm-labour-market-stability-hightech-investments-support-malaysias-economic-outlook/235705"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — Malaysia's Leading Index (LI) climbed 1.1 percent year-on-year in July 2026, reaching 115.3 points, up from 114.0 points in the same period last year, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). The main contributors to the rise were a 24.1 percent surge in real imports of non-ferrous metals and a 17.4 percent increase in real imports of semiconductors. However, the overall performance waned slightly due to a more stable performance in other sectors, notably new company registrations.\n\nOn a month-to-month basis, the LI grew 0.3 percent, driven by a 0.1 percent rise in real money supply (M1) and a similar increase in real imports of semiconductors. Despite the LI's smoothed long-term trend remaining below 100.0 points, the Department of Statistics Malaysia anticipates a resilient domestic economic outlook. This forecast is primarily backed by a consistently low unemployment rate and a stable labour market.\n\nMoreover, the influx of high-impact investments in the high-tech sector, coupled with strong global demand for semiconductor and electrical and electronics (E&E) products, is expected to safeguard Malaysia's economic stability amidst external market fluctuations, the DOSM added.\n\nThe Coincident Index (CI), which captures current economic developments, also rose 1.7 percent year-on-year to 131.5 points in July 2026, from 129.3 points in July 2025. This growth was fueled by a 5.8 percent jump in real Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions and a 4.5 percent increase in the Industrial Production Index. On a monthly basis, the CI dipped 0.1 percent, primarily due to a 0.2 percent fall in real EPF contributions and a decline in manufacturing capacity utilisation.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — Malaysia’s Leading Index (LI) grew 1.1 per cent year-on-year in July 2026 to 115.3 p...",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysia's Leading Index rose 1.1% YoY in July 2026 to 115.3 points",
    "High-tech investments and semiconductor demand support economic outlook",
    "Stable labor market and low unemployment back resilient domestic economy"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Malaysia's economic outlook remains resilient due to a stable labour market, low unemployment rate, and influx of high-tech investments, which are expected to shield the economy from external fluctuations.",
  "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."
}