Unemployment Rate Stays At 3.0 Pct In July 2025 - DOSM

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- July's unemployment rate remained at 3.0 per cent, with 521,600 registered as unemployed, according to the Labour Force Statistics for July 2025 released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) today.

Reviewing the overall labour market performance for July 2025, Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the labour market sustained its positive trajectory, driven by continued improvements in domestic economics despite global economic uncertainty.

“Therefore, the number of labour force in July 2025 recorded a further increase of 0.2 per cent month-on-month, reaching 17.47 million persons (June 2025: 17.43 million persons). Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate stood at 70.8 per cent, the same as for June,” he said in a statement today.

The number of employed persons was on an upward trend in July, with a rise of 0.2 per cent to 16.95 million persons (June 2025: 16.92 million persons). Meanwhile, the number of unemployed persons during the month increased by 0.6 per cent to 521,600 persons (June 2025: 518,700 persons), with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 3.0 per cent, unchanged from the previous month.

According to Mohd Uzir, 75.0 per cent of the total employed persons in July 2025 were in the employees' category, and it changed a little to 12.71 million persons in July 2025, with a slight increase of 0.1 per cent (June 2025: 12.69 million persons).

In terms of economic sectors, the number of employed persons in the services sector maintained its favourable momentum during the month, particularly in wholesale and retail trade, accommodation and food and beverage services, as well as information and communication activities.

“On the same note, the manufacturing, construction, agriculture and mining and quarrying sectors also recorded positive growth in employment,” he said.

He also said that the number of persons working less than 30 hours per week registered a decrease of 1.0 per cent to 240,500 persons during the month (June 2025: 243,100 persons).

Likewise, the number of persons working less than 30 hours per week but willing and able to work additional hours, or classified as time-related underemployment, fell by 2.1 per cent to 134,800 persons, recording a time-related underemployment rate of 0.8 per cent (June 2025: 137,600 persons).

On the unemployment situation in July 2025, he stated that 79.8 per cent of the total unemployed persons were those who were available for work and were actively seeking jobs, or actively unemployed.

“The number of actively unemployed expanded by 0.4 per cent to 416,200 persons (June 2025: 414,400 persons). Within this group, those who were unemployed for less than three months comprised 64.3 per cent, while those who were in long-term unemployment for more than a year encompassed 5.1 per cent,” he said.

He concluded that Malaysia's labour market is expected to remain stable, inclusive and resilient with positive prospects in the coming months, and despite external challenges, strong domestic economic fundamentals, strategic investments and proactive government policies are predicted to continue supporting employment growth. 

-- BERNAMA