Family duties remain the biggest reason Malaysians stay outside employment

KUCHING: Household and family responsibilities remained the leading reason Malaysians stayed outside the labour force in the third quarter of 2026, accounting for 3.23 million people, or 45.7 per cent of the total.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said the number increased from 3.20 million in the preceding quarter, according to its Labour Force Survey Report for the third quarter of 2026.

Women accounted for 69.5 per cent, or 4.91 million, of those outside the labour force, while men made up the remaining 30.5 per cent, or 2.16 million.

Schooling and training were the second-largest reason, involving 2.84 million people, or 40.1 per cent.

Together, household responsibilities and education accounted for 85.8 per cent of those outside the labour force.

Other reasons included retirement or old age at 8.5 per cent, disability (2.7 per cent), plans for further studies (1.8 per cent) and lack of interest in seeking employment or recent completion of studies (1.2 per cent).

Overall, the population outside the labour force declined by 6,200 to 7.07 million from the second quarter, although it increased by 21,600, or 0.3 per cent, year-on-year.

DOSM reported that the female labour force participation rate remained unchanged at 57.0 per cent, compared with 83.4 per cent for men, leaving a gap of 26.4 percentage points.

The female labour force expanded by 12,900 to 6.50 million, while the male workforce increased by 45,100 to 10.83 million.

Among women, participation was highest in the 25 to 34 age group at 74.6 per cent, while the rate for those aged 35 to 44 rose from 67.2 to 69.2 per cent.

Participation declined among women aged 45 to 54, 55 to 64 and 15 to 24.

For men, participation was highest among those aged 45 to 54 at 97.0 per cent, followed by those aged 35 to 44 at 96.8 per cent.

The employment-to-population ratio remained at 55.1 per cent for women and rose slightly to 81.0 per cent for men.

DOSM defines people outside the labour force as those who are neither employed nor unemployed, including homemakers, students, retirees and individuals not seeking work.