EMBARGO: Only to be published or disseminated at
12:00 hour,
Friday, 10 May 2024
LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS, MARCH 2024
- The number of employed persons continued its upward trend in March 2024, marking a
month-on-month increase of 0.1 per cent (+24.3 thousand persons) to 16.53 million persons,
as against 16.51 million persons recorded in February 2024. During the month, the
employment-to-population ratio, which indicates the economy’s ability to create employment,
remained at 67.9 per cent as in February 2024.
- In terms of the economic sector, the Services sector continued to record a positive trend in the
number of employed persons, particularly in the Wholesale & retail trade; Food & beverage
services; and Information & communication activities. Likewise, the number of employed persons
in the Manufacturing, Construction, Mining & quarrying and Agriculture sectors was also on an
increasing trend in March 2024.
- In March 2024, 75.1 per cent of employed persons were in the employees’ category, registering
an uptick of 0.1 per cent (+12.9 thousand persons) to 12.42 million persons compared to
12.41 million persons in February 2024. Similarly, a positive trend was observed in the category
of own-account workers, which increased by 0.3 per cent (+8.9 thousand persons) to
3.03 million persons (February 2024: 3.02 million persons).
- The number of unemployed persons in March 2024 changed little to 566.6 thousand persons,
with a slight decline of 0.1 per cent (-0.4 thousand persons) as against the prior month
(February 2024: 567.0 thousand persons). The unemployment rate during the month remained
at 3.3 per cent as in the previous month.
- The number of labour force in March 2024 strengthened further, with a rise of 0.1 per cent or
equivalent to 23.8 thousand persons, to record 17.10 million persons (February 2024:
17.07 million persons). Accordingly, the labour force participation rate (LFPR) rose by
0.1 percentage points to 70.3 per cent (February 2024: 70.2%).
- The number of persons outside the labour force in March 2024 continued to decrease, with a
marginal decline of 0.003 per cent (-0.2 thousand persons) to 7.23 million persons
(February 2024: 7.23 million persons). The major composition of the outside labour force was
housework/ family responsibilities at 42.6 per cent, followed by schooling/ training reasons
at 41.4 per cent.
The full publication of the Labour Force Report, March 2024 can be downloaded through eStatistik Portal
Released by:
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS MALAYSIA
10 MAY 2024
Baharudin Mohamad
Public Relation Officer
Strategic Communication and International Division
Department of Statistics Malaysia
Tel : +603-8090 4681
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : baharudin[at]dosm.gov.my
Copyright ©2026 Department of Statistics Malaysia Official Portal. All Rights Reserved.
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