Women in Malaysia’s Workforce: Labour Force Participation Statistics
How many Malaysian women are working or looking for work, how that compares with men, which states lead, and how many people stay out of the workforce for housework and family responsibilities. Every figure links to DOSM.
Key Statistics: Women and Work in Malaysia
The headline figures from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
female labour force participation rate, July 2026
male labour force participation rate, July 2026
percentage-point gap between men and women
female participation for 2025 as a whole
female participation in Selangor (2025)
Malaysians of working age outside the labour force
of them cite housework or family responsibilities
people outside the workforce for housework or family duties
How Many Malaysian Women Are in the Workforce?
Malaysia’s female labour force participation rate was 57.4% in July 2026, against 82.9% for men, a gap of 25.5 percentage points. The overall rate was 70.9%, with a labour force of 17.37 million (DOSM, Labour Force July 2026).
For 2025 as a whole, female participation was 56.6%, so the July 2026 figure is 0.8 percentage points higher (DOSM via NST).
Which States Have the Most Women in Work?
Putrajaya had the highest female labour force participation rate in 2025 at 79.7%, followed by Selangor (70.7%) and Kuala Lumpur (66.9%). Melaka and Pulau Pinang followed at 58.3% each (DOSM via NST).
| Area | Compared with national | Female participation, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Putrajaya | Above | 79.7% |
| Selangor | Above | 70.7% |
| Kuala Lumpur | Above | 66.9% |
| Melaka | Above | 58.3% |
| Pulau Pinang | Above | 58.3% |
| Malaysia | National rate | 56.6% |
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia, labour force statistics for 2025, via New Straits Times.
Why Are People Outside the Labour Force?
Housework and family responsibilities are the largest reason: 43.3% of the 7.11 million working-age Malaysians outside the labour force gave it in July 2026, about 3.1 million people, ahead of schooling and training at 40.2% (DOSM). The pattern was the same across 2025, at 43.8% for housework or family responsibilities and 42.2% for education (NST).
What Is the Unemployment Rate in Malaysia?
Malaysia’s unemployment rate was 3.0% in July 2026, with 520.3 thousand people unemployed, while 16.85 million were employed, 74.9% of them as employees (DOSM).
Help at Home for Working Families
Housework and caring for family members are the biggest reasons people stay out of paid work. For families where both adults work, or where a parent needs looking after, outside help at home can make the difference.
That help ranges from a part-time maid a few hours a week to nursing care for an elderly parent.
Sources and How to Cite This Page
Monthly figures come from the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s Labour Force, Malaysia, July 2026 release. Annual 2025 and state figures come from DOSM as reported by the New Straits Times. The number of people outside the labour force for housework or family reasons and the gaps between rates are calculated by Service Pro from those figures.
Cite this page: Service Pro, “Women in Malaysia’s Workforce: Labour Force Participation Statistics”, https://servicepro.my/hygiene-insights/women-workforce-malaysia-statistics/. Journalists and bloggers are welcome to use these figures, tables and charts with a link to this page.
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