KUALA LUMPUR: The number of employed persons continued to trending upward in June 2024 while the number of unemployed persons decreased following the expansion of the economic position, according to Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

In a statement today, chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the number of employed persons in June increased by 0.2 per cent to 16.61 million persons compared with 16.58 millions persons in the previous month.

In contrast, he said, the unemployment rate remained at 3.3 per cent as the number of unemployed persons fell by 0.1 per cent month-on-month to 565,300 from 566,100 persons in May.

"The country's labour force position remained in a positive growth trend with a marginal increase in the number of employed persons, while the unemployed continued to decrease following the expansion of the economic position.

"Therefore, the number of labour force continued to increase in June 2024, with a month-on-month rise of 0.1 per cent to 17.17 million persons, registering a higher labour force participation rate (LFPR) during the month at 70.4 per cent," Mohd Uzir said.

Based on economic sector, the services, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, mining and quarrying  sectors continued to exhibit increases in the number of employed persons.

According to him, 75 per cent of the total employed persons during the month were in the employees' category which registered a monthly growth of 0.1 per cent to 12.46 million persons. 

On the same note, the own-account workers category remained on a positive trend, with a 0.3 per cent increase to 3.06 million persons.

Meanwhile, 79.9 per cent of the total unemployed persons in June were the actively unemployed or those who were available for work and were actively seeking jobs.

Mohd Uzir stated that the number of persons outside the labour force in June 2024 continued to decrease, falling slightly by 0.02 per cent to 7.23 million persons.

Housework/family responsibilities were the main reasons for the outside labour force with 42.8 per cent, followed by schooling/ training reason at 41.4 per cent.

Mohd Uzir said the overall performance of labour force for the second quarter of 2024 were positive.

"The number of employed persons went up by 1.2 per cent, reaching 16.59 million persons during the quarter while the number of unemployed persons reduced further by 0.6 per cent to 557,800 persons, recording 3.3 per cent of the unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2024," he added.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2024/08/1088985/number-employed-persons-grew- 02pct-june-economy-expands-dosm