KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 – Four decades ago, women made up only 45.7 per cent of the workforce, but by 2023, the percentage had increased to about 56.2 per cent, according to the Statistics on Women Empowerment in Selected Domains 2024 report by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
The report attributed this to shifting public perceptions as well as the results of national programmes meant to integrate women into the economy.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women of 56.2 per cent in 2023, was a slight increase from the previous year, which was 55.6 per cent. Meanwhile, the LFPR for men also increased from 81.5 per cent in 2022 to 82.3 per cent in 2023.
For both women and men, the LFPR tends to be higher for younger age groups and gradually decreases at older age.
This pattern is common in many countries, as younger individuals are typically more likely to be in the workforce or actively seeking employment, while older individuals may transition to retirement or other activities, noted the report.
Female LFPR Peaks At Age 25 to 29
Among men, the highest participation rate is in the 35 to 39 age group at 98.3 per cent. The participation rate remains relatively high for men until the 55 to 59 age group, where it starts to decline drastically.
Among women, the highest participation rate is in the 25 to 29 age group at 77.4 per cent. Unlike for men, the LFPR for women decreases as age increases, and it drops more steeply for the 55 to 59 and 60 to 64 age groups.
The following chart highlights age-related and gender-based differences in labour force participation rates in Malaysia in 2023.
While younger age groups generally have higher participation rates, there are significant disparities between males and females across all age groups, with males having higher rates of labour force participation, noted the report.
When measured across both urban and rural areas, male participation rates are consistently higher than female participation rates across all age groups. This indicates a gender disparity in workforce participation, with males having higher rates.
The largest gender gap can be seen in rural areas, especially in the older age group, where male participation is significantly higher than female participation.
Females generally have lower participation rates, and the rates tend to decline with age for both urban and rural areas, according to the report.
In terms of status in employment, over the last two years, the highest proportion of both females and males is in the employee category.
The proportion for female employees decreased from 82.6 per cent (2022) to 82.0 per cent (2023) while male employees increased from 76.1 per cent to 76.4 per cent during the same period.
The highest increment for females was in the own account worker category with 1.3 percentage points. Meanwhile, male as own account worker decreased to 16.9 per cent in 2023 as compared to 17.6 per cent in the previous year, according to the report.
Equal Unemployment Rate For Women And Men
The unemployment rate for women in 2023 decreased by 0.5 percentage points to 3.5 per cent as compared to 2022 (4.0 per cent).
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for men also decreased by 0.5 percentage points from 3.8 per cent (2022) to 3.3 per cent (2023).
This indicates that the unemployment rate for both women and men are equal, according to the report.
The highest unemployment rate gap between women and men was at the age group of 15 to 19 years, with a difference of 9.2 percentage points in 2023.
Government Initiatives To Boost Female LFPR
Gender disparities in the labour market remain an important aspect of labour force dynamics that policymakers need to address to promote greater gender equality in the labour force, noted the report.
Through a number of strategic initiatives, the Malaysian government is actively aiming to raise the current female labour force participation rate of 55.8 per cent to 60.0 per cent.
Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development, Nancy Shukri proposed three main strategies during a special discussion on empowering women under the Madani government (Sesi Diskusi Khas Kasih Wanita: Ekonomi Madani Memperkasa Wanita) in August 2023, according to the report.
First and foremost, the goal is to enhance laws and policies particularly the National Women Policy and guarantee the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 2022 is fully implemented.
Second, the government intends to create a friendly ecosystem by providing subsidised childcare facilities and financial assistance programmes for female entrepreneurs, such as MyKasih Kapital and the Two-Year Exit Programme (2YEP).
Thirdly, efforts will be focused on making training and capacity building accessible particularly through reskilling and upskilling.
The report noted that the low female LFPR is an issue that transcends statistical disparities and involves societal obstacles that women experience.
It concluded that the issue has to be addressed through ongoing initiatives, legislative changes and a mutual commitment to establishing a more equal and empowered workplace for women in Malaysia.
