Unemployment continues to dip

 

The number of those employed in the wholesale and retail trade sector remained high, followed by food and beverages services and information and communication activities.

PETALING JAYA: More of the unemployed are finding jobs, says the statistics department.

The unemployment rate was 4.2% in December, said Chief Statistician Uzir Mahidin.

He attributed this to the positive growth of the economy, which reopened in stages through the national recovery plan (NRP).

In a statement today, he said the number of unemployed stood at 687,600 in December, compared with 694,400 a month earlier.

“In December 2021, the number of employed persons remained upward, with a marginal increase of 0.2% month-on-month to 15.65 million when compared with 15.61 million in November.

“The number of unemployed continued to decrease by 1.0%.”

The number of those employed in the wholesale and retail trade sector remained high, followed by food and beverages services and information and communication activities.

Uzir said the manufacturing and construction sectors also recorded positive growth.

He expected further positive growth in the employment rate and the labour market, with all states now in Phase 4 of the NRP and businesses allowed to operate at full capacity. - FMT