PUTRAJAYA, May 15 — Malaysia’s labour demand rose 1.4 per cent in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, reaching 9.06 million jobs compared to 8.94 million in the same period last year, according to the Employment Statistics released today by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the growth aligns with Malaysia’s improving economic performance, which is projected to continue to be supported by resilient domestic demand.
Of the total jobs recorded, 97.9 percent were filled, while the remaining 2.1 percent were vacant.
He said the number of filled jobs rose 1.4 percent year-on-year to 8.87 million in Q1 2025, compared to 8.75 million in the same quarter last year.
All sectors contributed to the growth, with the services sector leading at 1.8 per cent, followed by manufacturing (1.5 per cent) and construction (0.5 per cent).
In terms of economic activity, the services sector accounted for the largest share of filled jobs at 52.8 per cent or 4.69 million, followed by manufacturing at 26.9 per cent (2.38 million), and construction at 14.1 per cent (1.25 million).
Commenting on the distribution by skills category, Uzir said the majority were in the semi-skilled category, accounting for 5.55 million or 62.5 per cent of total filled jobs. This was followed by 2.23 million jobs in the skilled category and 1.09 million in the low-skilled category.
On current labour demand, job vacancies rose 1.2 per cent year-on-year to 194,100 in Q1 2025, up from 191,900 in the same quarter last year.
He said the manufacturing sector remained the main contributor to job vacancies, making up 57.3 per cent of total vacancies. The electrical, electronic, and optical products subsector recorded 33,900 vacancies, followed by 20,200 vacancies in the petroleum, chemical, rubber, and plastic products subsector.
The agriculture and construction sectors reported 31,800 and 25,400 vacancies, respectively.
By skills category, semi-skilled roles accounted for the largest share of vacancies at 56.3 per cent (109,200), while skilled and low-skilled roles made up 24.4 per cent (47,400) and 19.3 per cent (37,500), respectively.
On job creation, Uzir reported that 33,200 new jobs were created in Q1 2025, an increase of 3.4 per cent from 32,100 jobs recorded in the same quarter last year.
"The rise in jobs created, especially in skilled and semi-skilled categories, may encourage individuals to pursue higher education and specialised training, building a workforce with expertise and innovation," he noted.
Malaysia’s labour demand is set for continued growth, reflecting the nation’s commitment to strengthening its economic foundation and achieving sustainable development.
The manufacturing sector remained a key driver, with the Monthly Manufacturing Statistics reporting a 1.1 per cent year-on-year increase in employment during the quarter.
“This trend aligns with the objectives of the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), which aims to drive employment growth and enhance workforce capabilities within the manufacturing sector," Uzir said.
— Bernama
