KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 27): Median monthly salaries and wages rose 7.7% in 2022 to RM2,424, from RM2,250 in 2021 after Malaysia implemented the minimum wage of RM1,500 in May last year, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

In a statement on Wednesday, chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin attributed the increase also to continuous economic and social activities, supported by increasing tourist arrivals and improvements in the labour market, especially in the services sector.

“The Malaysian government had increased the minimum wage to RM1,500 starting from May 2022, mandating a monthly wage of RM1,500 for employees in all sectors, as a measure that is expected to improve overall salaries and wages conditions in the country as compared to the previous years.

“Thus, this situation is reflected by the increase in the median monthly salaries and wages received by Malaysian citizens in 2022 which rose by 7.7% to RM2,424 (2021: RM2,250),” Mohd Uzir said.

He said about 50% of full-time citizen workers received salaries and wages of RM2,424 and below in 2022.

Likewise, the mean monthly salaries and wages received by Malaysians in 2022 rose by 5.8%, registering RM3,212 compared to RM3,037 in 2021.

By economic activity, all sectors recorded increases in mean monthly salaries and wages in 2022.

According to DOSM, the services sector, which was the largest sector in the economy, recorded the highest number of salary and wage recipients, particularly in the sub-sector of wholesale and retail trade activities, education, food and beverages (F&B) and accommodation.

This was followed by the manufacturing sector. The services sector recorded an increase in mean monthly salaries and wages of 5% while the manufacturing sector notched an increase in mean monthly salaries and wages of 7.9%.

The mean monthly salaries and wages for skilled employees also increased by 3.7%, registering an additional RM177 to RM5,025 compared to RM4,848 in 2021.

“Among skilled employees, managers took home the highest mean monthly salaries and wages at RM6,385, increased by 1.4% as against RM6,296 in 2021 and followed by professionals (RM5,900) and technicians and associate professionals (RM3,668).

“The mean monthly salaries and wages of semi-skilled employees rose to RM2,241 (2021: RM2,064), particularly contributed by clerical support workers (RM2,555), followed by plant and machine operators and assemblers (RM2,158), craft and related trades workers (RM2,154) and services and sales workers (RM2,139)," said Mohd Uzir.

The low-skilled category, which includes elementary workers, also increased by RM66 to RM1,815 as compared to RM1,749 in the previous year.

Meanwhile, the mean monthly salaries and wages for both urban and rural areas recorded an upward trend to RM3,351 for urban areas and RM2,393 for rural areas as compared to 2021.

"Specifically, the mean monthly salaries and wages in urban areas posted a growth of 5.1% (2021: RM3,188, +3.2%), while rural areas exhibited a relatively more substantial growth of 10.5% (2021: RM2,166, +3.9%)," he added.

By states, Putrajaya recorded the highest mean monthly salaries and wages at RM4,666.  Four other states surpassed the national mean level of RM3,212, namely Kuala Lumpur (RM4,207), Selangor (RM3,737), Labuan (RM3,418) and Pulau Pinang (RM3,313).