KUALA LUMPUR | The unemployment rate for November 2023 is showing a decrease in number, dropping to 3.3 percent, with 569,000 jobless individuals—the same as pre-pandemic levels. This improvement from October’s 3.4 percent was reported in the latest Labour Force statistics by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin highlighted the positive economic growth reflected in the November figures.

The labor force expanded by 0.2 percent to 17 million people, compared to October’s 16.97 million. Employed persons increased by 0.2 percent, reaching 16.43 million, while the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 0.3 percent to 569,000.

Of the employed, 75.3 percent were in the employees’ category, with a slight increase to 12.37 million individuals.

Own-account workers also saw a 0.3 percent increase, totaling 2.99 million.

Growth in the services sector, particularly in information and communication, food and beverage services, and transportation and storage activities, contributed to the positive trend.

Additionally, the manufacturing, construction, and mining sectors reported increases in employed persons in November 2023, whereas the agriculture sector experienced a decline.