Jobs and pay news for Malaysia
What changed in each official release on jobs and pay in Malaysia, what it means for employees and employers, and when the next figures are due.
Latest news
News · 21 October 2026Malaysia approves RM47.67 million for 19,084 chip training placesRM47.67 million for 19,084 training places; 22,849 trained by Q3 2026 against a target of 60,000 skilled engineers by 2030.
News · 20 October 2026Budget 2027 proposes RM2,500 starting salary for graduatesBudget 2027 proposes a RM2,500 starting salary for graduates. 46.8% of new degree graduates and 82.1% of diploma graduates earn RM2,500 or less.
News · 20 October 2026Malaysia's unemployment rate falls to 2.9% in August2.9% in August 2026, down from 3.0%. 64.2% of active job seekers had been looking under three months; people aged 15 to 24 were over half the unemployed.
News · 19 October 2026Malaysia's inflation eases to 1.8% in September1.8% in September 2026, down from 1.9%. Utilities slowed after wider electricity bill protection; transport rose to 2.5% as fuel prices climbed.Data and salary reports
Updated at every release.
Salary · Updated 21 October 2026Salary by industry in MalaysiaEducation pays the highest median, RM5,990, and agriculture the lowest, RM1,813. All 19 industries with growth since 2015.
Data · Updated 21 October 2026Wage growth in MalaysiaMedian salary RM2,940 in 2025, up 5.3% (3.9% real). Growth since 2010 for the median and mean, and pay by education and age.
Salary · Updated 20 October 2026Fresh graduate salary in MalaysiaIncome bands for degree and diploma graduates of 2025 by field of study, public and private universities, and DOSM medians for young graduates.
Data · Updated 20 October 2026Graduate unemployment in Malaysia3.2% of graduates were unemployed in 2024, 16.7% of those aged 24 and under. The series since 2020, by age, degree and diploma, and underemployment.
Data · Updated 20 October 2026Underemployment in Malaysia35.2% skill-related and 0.7% time-related underemployment in Q2 2026. The series since 2017, by age, sex and state.
Data · Updated 20 October 2026Unemployment rate in Malaysia2.9% in August 2026, with 511,600 unemployed. The annual series since 1982, all 16 states, youth rates and underemployment.
Salary · Updated 18 October 2026Government starting pay in Malaysia by scheme66 degree-entry schemes ranked by starting basic pay, RM2,250 to RM3,130, which ones get the critical service incentive, and the Kuala Lumpur figure with allowances.