KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's labor demand grew 1.8 percent year-on-year to 9.23 million jobs in the first quarter of 2026, supported by resilient economic activity despite global uncertainties, official data showed Thursday.
The labor market remained stable in the first quarter, with total jobs increasing from 9.06 million a year earlier, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement.
The growth was driven by continued expansion in employment, alongside government contingency measures aimed at cushioning the impact of external shocks, including energy market volatility and subsidy rationalization.
Of the total jobs recorded, 97.9 percent were filled, while the remaining 2.1 percent were vacant. During the quarter, 32,700 new jobs were created.
By sector, services remained the largest employer, accounting for 53.3 percent of filled jobs, followed by manufacturing at 26.7 percent and construction at 13.9 percent.
DOSM said labor demand continued its steady upward trajectory, supported by a 1 percent year-on-year increase in employed persons.
"Businesses in Malaysia continued to demonstrate resilience despite recent challenges, including the escalating energy prices and freight rates, which have increased operating expenses and exerted pressure on profit margins," it added. Enditem
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