Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Employment (ILO modelled estimates) was 18,015 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Malaysia, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Malaysia stood at 18,015. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 23.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Malaysia peaked at 18,015 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 6,276, in 1991.
Malaysia ranks 37th of 188 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 6,276 | — |
| 1992 | 6,520 | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 6,737 | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 7,017 | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 7,309 | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 7,623 | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 7,902 | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 8,122 | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 8,395 | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 8,733 | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 8,990 | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 9,307 | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 9,617 | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 9,959 | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 10,311 | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 10,700 | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 11,083 | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 11,476 | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 11,853 | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 12,298 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 12,712 | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 13,222 | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 13,728 | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 14,298 | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 14,635 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 14,885 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 15,241 | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 15,678 | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 16,083 | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 16,106 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 16,434 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 17,033 | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 17,368 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 17,678 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 18,015 | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7,322 | 6,276 | 8,395 | 9 |
| 2000s | 10,203 | 8,733 | 11,853 | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,278 | 12,298 | 16,083 | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,106 | 16,106 | 18,015 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 34 Poland 18,458 compare
- 35 Peru 18,258 compare
- 36 South Africa 18,073 compare
- 38 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 17,070 compare
- 39 Saudi Arabia 16,665 compare
- 40 Madagascar 16,572 compare
More work & labour data for Malaysia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.2772 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.2563 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.25 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6933 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 36,440 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,289 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 21,832 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 22,194 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 44,026 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Malaysia?
- Employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Malaysia was 18,015 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 18,015 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,276 in 1991.
- How does Malaysia rank for employment (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Malaysia ranks 37th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by status in employment are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Classification of Status in Employment (ICSE-93). Data may have been regrouped from the national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ICSE. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.