Malaysia's labour market showed continued resilience in October 2025, with the total number of employed persons rising to 17.06 million, an increase of 0.2% (+33.8 thousand persons) compared to September, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). The employment-to-population ratio held steady at 68.8%, reflecting the economy's ongoing capacity to generate jobs.
The Services sector remained the main driver of employment growth, particularly in Accommodation and Food & Beverage services, Wholesale and Retail Trade, and Information and Communication activities. Other sectors, including Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Construction, also saw increases, while Mining & Quarrying recorded a decline in employment.
Of the total workforce, 74.8% were employees, posting a marginal increase of 0.1% (+17.2 thousand persons) to 12.76 million. Meanwhile, own-account workers rose by 0.4% (+11.9 thousand persons) to 3.25 million.
The number of unemployed persons in October edged slightly higher by 0.1% (+0.3 thousand) to 518.9 thousand, with the unemployment rate remaining at 3.0%, unchanged from September.
The overall labour force continued to expand, reaching 17.58 million in October, up 0.2% (+34.2 thousand persons) from the previous month. The labour force participation rate (LFPR) remained at 70.9%.
Meanwhile, the number of persons outside the labour force rose slightly to 7.22 million, driven primarily by housework and family responsibilities (43.6%), followed by those engaged in schooling or training (40.7%).
The data indicates a steady but measured growth in employment across key sectors, reflecting a balanced labour market as Malaysia navigates ongoing economic challenges
