Job numbers up by almost 150,000 in Q1

 

Chief statistician Uzir Mahidin says the job market performance reflects global and domestic expansion activities, broader vaccine coverage and general improvement in trade. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The number of jobs rose by 148,520 to record 8.57 million in the first quarter of the year compared with 8.42 million in the same period last year, the statistics department said today.

Chief statistician Uzir Mahidin said the number of jobs rose by 41,000 in the first three months of 2022 compared with the preceding quarter.

He said the increase was in line with global and domestic expansion activities, broader vaccine coverage and general improvement in trade.

In a statement, Uzir said the number of jobs filled had also risen, with 142,060 jobs snapped up in the first quarter or 97.8% in filled positions and 2.2% in vacancies.

The filled jobs were contributed by the electronics manufacturing sector, followed by petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products.

He said most of the jobs filled were semi-skilled at 62.5%, followed by skilled (24.7%) and low-skilled at 12.8%.

“The overall performance of the labour market indicates that it is paving the way for a more favourable and sustainable recovery in the near-term,” he said. - FMT