Malaysia Records 70,240 Job Losses as Skilled Workers Face Growing Transition Risk

Kuala Lumpur, 8 October 2026 – Malaysia recorded 70,240 job-loss cases as of 25 September, with nearly half involving workers who held at least a diploma, according to figures cited by the Human Resources Ministry. The data highlight a labour-market adjustment that is reaching beyond lower-skilled roles and creating a more complex challenge for employers, policymakers and investors assessing the country’s economic resilience.

Social Security Organisation records showed that 34,800 affected workers, or 49.54% of the total, possessed a diploma or higher qualification. The figures were provided in a written parliamentary reply. They measure reported job-loss cases within the social-security system and should not be treated as equivalent to the national unemployment count, which is derived through a broader labour-force survey.