The department said the unemployment rate in May remained at 3%, as in April.

Chief Statistician Uzir Mahidin said the total number of employed persons continued to increase in May, rising by 0.3% to 16.86 million from 16.82 million in April.

“The continued decrease in unemployment, alongside a rise in employment, reflects Malaysia’s positive and encouraging economic performance,” he said in a statement.

Uzir said the number of employed persons in the services sector showed a consistent upward trend, particularly in accommodation, food and beverage services, wholesale and retail trade, and transport and storage activities.

“The manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and mining and quarrying sectors also recorded an increasing number of employed persons during the month,” he said.

The unemployment rate for youth aged 15 to 24 declined to 10.2% in May, with 297,700 unemployed youths compared with 298,300 in April.

For youth aged 15 to 30, the unemployment rate stood at 6.2%, registering 399,000 unemployed youths. In April, it stood at 400,600 unemployed youths.

Uzir said the country’s labour market is expected to continue expanding in the coming months, supported by government policies, macroeconomic stability and investments in human capital.

“Despite ongoing global challenges, strong domestic fundamentals and sustained investment in human capital help maintain the stability and steady performance of the labour market.”