LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Malaysia
Malaysia: LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment was 5.28 in 2027. ▼ Falling
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Malaysia, 2005–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Malaysia is 5.28, measured in 2027.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Malaysia peaked at 8.09 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.26, in 2025.
That places Malaysia 157th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 7.81 | — |
| 2006 | 7.49 | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 7.49 | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 7.54 | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 8 | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 7.54 | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 7.14 | -5.4% |
| 2012 | 7.59 | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 7.83 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 6.63 | -15.3% |
| 2015 | 6.68 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 6.86 | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 6.55 | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 6.16 | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 5.5 | -10.7% |
| 2020 | 8.09 | +47.1% |
| 2021 | 6.45 | -20.3% |
| 2022 | 5.42 | -16.0% |
| 2023 | 5.35 | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 5.33 | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 5.26 | -1.4% |
| 2026 | 5.26 | +0.1% |
| 2027 | 5.28 | +0.4% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 5.28 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.16, 43% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 5.28 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.83, 91% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +47.1% | 5.5 | 8.09 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.67 | 7.49 | 8 | 5 |
| 2010s | 6.85 | 5.5 | 7.83 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.81 | 5.26 | 8.09 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
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 lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Malaysia?
- Lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Malaysia was 5.28 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.09 in 2020.
- What is the lowest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.26 in 2025.
- How does Malaysia rank for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment?
- Malaysia ranks 157th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
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. LU2 represents the share of the labour force that are either in unemployment or time-related underemployment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.