Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malaysia
Malaysia: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 21.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malaysia, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 21.9% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malaysia peaked at 29.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 21.9%, in 2025.
That places Malaysia 114th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.6% | 26.5% | 29.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 25.0% | 23.9% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.1% | 22.4% | 23.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.2% | 21.9% | 22.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 111 Argentina 22.3% compare
- 112 Saint Lucia 22.0% compare
- 113 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 22.0% compare
- 115 Libya 21.6% compare
- 116 Trinidad and Tobago 21.2% compare
- 117 Chile 20.9% compare
More work & labour data for Malaysia
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 45.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 79.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 70.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 66.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malaysia?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malaysia was 21.9% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.1% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.9% in 2025.
- How does Malaysia rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Malaysia ranks 114th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).