Chief Statistician Uzir Mahidin said the number of registered Bumiputera lawyers increased by 13.7%, land surveyors by 12.2% and dentists by 11.8% compared to 2022.

“As of 2023, the number of registered Bumiputera professionals in various fields includes 12,222 accountants, 10,057 lawyers, 7,880 dentists, 3,055 quantity surveyors, 1,013 architects and 359 licensed land surveyors,” he said in a statement.

Bumiputeras also accounted for a notable share of the total registered professionals in various fields, including 31.2% of accountants, 39.7% of lawyers, 55.3% of dentists, 62.3 % of quantity surveyors, 41.2% of architects and 61.8% of land surveyors.

Uzir also said that in 2023, the Bumiputera labour force totalled 9.8 million, with a labour force participation rate (LFPR) of 67.2%.

Male Bumiputera LFPR was strong at 80.8%, while female LFPR stood at 53.4%.

“Among employed Bumiputeras, those with secondary or equivalent education constituted 56.2% of the labour force.”

Uzir said the proportion of Bumiputera workers with tertiary education increased to 38.2% in 2023, up from 37.1% in 2022, which reflected Malaysia’s investment in education and skills development.

“A knowledgeable and skilled workforce is crucial to ensure Malaysia remains competitive in the rapidly evolving global economy.”

As for graduates, the number of Bumiputera graduates reached 3.7 million in 2023, comprising 1.6 million males and 2.1 million females.

Bumiputera graduates saw an increased LFPR of 89.2% (2022: 88.5%), while the LFPR for females declined slightly to 81.8% (2022: 82.4%).

“Understanding the socio-economic profile of the Bumiputera population is critical for crafting inclusive and forward-looking policies that can unlock the full potential of this key demographic.

“This data will serve as a foundation for strategies aimed at fostering more inclusive growth and ensuring that all segments of Malaysian society benefit from the nation’s economic progress,” Uzir said.