A total of 7,057 employees were reported to have lost their jobs in April, reflecting a 21% increase from March, according to Economy Minister Datuk Seri Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. He said the rise calls for close attention, even though April’s figure remains lower compared to earlier months this year.
He pointed out that job losses were higher in earlier months with:
- January: 10,658
- February: 7,512
- March: 5,855
While April showed an improvement in the broader trend, the month-on-month increase from March to April still requires monitoring.
Monthly increase raises attention
He added that each case represents a family that has lost its source of income, and assures that the government will ensure the Employment Insurance System (SIP), also known as LINDUNG Kerjaya under PERKESO, continues to function effectively in supporting affected workers.
The scheme provides temporary financial assistance as well as job placement support for individuals who have lost their jobs while they search for new employment.
In a separate update, the Department of Statistics reported that Malaysia’s unemployment rate improved slightly, easing to 2.9%. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate rose to 70.9%.
Jobs losses highest in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur
Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB), citing PERKESO data, also noted that Selangor and Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest number of job losses in March. Selangor accounted for 29.3% of total loss-of-employment cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur at 25.6%, even as the national unemployment rate remained steady.
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