Pahang tops labour growth race 2024
Labor productivity grew in most Malaysian states in 2024, with six states exceeding the national rate of 2.4 percent, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Those states were Pahang, Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Selangor, and Sarawak.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin reported that national labor productivity reached RM99,265 per worker in 2024, up from RM96,914 in 2023. Total employment rose to 16.6 million, a 2.6 percent increase. Pahang led state-level growth at 4.9 percent, followed by Johor at 4.3 percent and Kuala Lumpur at 3.0 percent. The construction sector drove national gains with a 16.4 percent productivity increase, surpassing manufacturing, agriculture, services, and mining.
Mohd Uzir said stable economic conditions support a positive outlook for productivity. He stressed that ongoing investment in workforce training, education, and digital tools will help maintain progress across states despite global and domestic challenges.
