KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 10): Malaysia’s jobless rate remained at decade-low level in July, as the number of employed persons rose amid an expanding labour force, official data showed.

Unemployment rate in July was 3.0%, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement on Wednesday. Economists generally consider a 3% unemployment rate as the economy having full employment.

“The labour market sustained its positive trajectory, underpinned by continued improvements in domestic economics despite global economic uncertainty,” said chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin.

Malaysia’s labour market is expected to remain stable with positive “prospects in the coming months,” he said. Despite external challenges, strong domestic fundamentals, investments, and government policies will continue supporting employment growth, he added.

During the month, the number of unemployed persons rose 0.6% to 521,600 persons. The labour force, meanwhile, expanded 0.2% month-on-month to 17.47 million persons. Labour force participation rate, the proportion of employed persons within the entire working population, was steady at 70.8%.

The employee category, comprising the large majority of the workforce, was a tad higher at 12.71 million persons. Own-account workers — people who operate their own farm or business, or engage in full-time trade without hiring paid employees — gained 0.4% to 3.21 million persons.

By economic sectors, most of the employed persons were concentrated in the services sector, with DOSM noting “favourable momentum” particularly in wholesale-and-retail trade; accommodation, and food-and-beverage services, as well as information and communication activities.

The manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and mining and quarrying sectors also saw an increase in employment.

In terms of age groups, unemployment for youths — those between 15 and 24 years old and just entering the labour market following education — was little changed at 10.2%, or about 297,500 people.