Unemployment of previously employed persons in Malaysia

Malaysia: Unemployment of previously employed persons was 630.4 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
630.4
Change on year
down 14.0%
World rank
24th
of 106 countries
All-time high
733
in 2021
All-time low
214.9
in 1997
Years of data
23
1995–2022

Unemployment of previously employed persons in Malaysia, 1995–2022

2004006008001995200820221995: 248.11996: 216.81997: 214.91998: 2841999: 313.72000: 286.92001: 342.42002: 343.52003: 369.82004: 366.62005: 368.12006: 353.62007: 351.42008: 368.52009: 4182010: 395.82015: 450.32016: 504.12018: 504.32019: 508.22020: 7112021: 7332022: 630.4

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment of previously employed persons in Malaysia is 630.4, measured in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.0% on the previous year and up 59.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment of previously employed persons in Malaysia peaked at 733 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 214.9, in 1997.

Malaysia ranks 24th of 106 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Unemployment of previously employed persons in Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Malaysia, 1995 to 2022.
Year Value Change
1995 248.1
1996 216.8 -12.6%
1997 214.9 -0.9%
1998 284 +32.2%
1999 313.7 +10.5%
2000 286.9 -8.5%
2001 342.4 +19.3%
2002 343.5 +0.3%
2003 369.8 +7.7%
2004 366.6 -0.9%
2005 368.1 +0.4%
2006 353.6 -3.9%
2007 351.4 -0.6%
2008 368.5 +4.9%
2009 418 +13.4%
2010 395.8 -5.3%
2015 450.3 +13.8%
2016 504.1 +11.9%
2018 504.3 +0.0%
2019 508.2 +0.8%
2020 711 +39.9%
2021 733 +3.1%
2022 630.4 -14.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 255.5 214.9 313.7 5
2000s 356.88 286.9 418 10
2010s 472.54 395.8 508.2 5
2020s 691.47 630.4 733 3

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 21 Australia 693.15 compare
  2. 22 Angola 655.15 compare
  3. 23 Chile 640.4 compare
  4. 25 Pakistan 623.27 compare
  5. 26 Peru 596.83 compare
  6. 27 Greece 547.63 compare

See the full ranking of 106 places →

More work & labour data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment of previously employed persons in Malaysia?
Unemployment of previously employed persons in Malaysia was 630.4 in 2022, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment of previously employed persons recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 733 in 2021.
What is the lowest unemployment of previously employed persons recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 214.9 in 1997.
How does Malaysia rank for unemployment of previously employed persons?
Malaysia ranks 24th out of 106 countries with data for 2022.
Is unemployment of previously employed persons rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 59.3%. 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 Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment of previously employed persons in Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-of-previously-employed-persons-previous-ilo-definition-icls13/malaysia/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
106 places, 2,348 data points, 1976–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.