The services sector dominated ²Ñ²¹±ô²¹²â²õ¾±²¹â€™s  employment in 2023, with around 62.41 percent of the labor force working in that sector. The industrial sector held 27.75 percent of workers, close to the ten-year average. Agricultural employment was down to below 10 percent, a decrease from 2007 that was absorbed by the services sector.
Employment sector and productivity
Comparing the share of employment to gross domestic product (GDP) in each sector, one can see that the industrial sector is most productive per worker in terms of output. This suggests that Malaysia should continue to invest in its industry and focus on increasing its trade surplus, for example.
Regional context
Malaysia is part of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. While this bloc has a varied level of development as shown by GDP per capita, the overall level of economic growth in the region has been impressive in the past few decades. The increase in the number of internet users furthers ²Ñ²¹±ô²¹²â²õ¾±²¹â€™s connection to both the regional and global economy. This suggests that the composition of ²Ñ²¹±ô²¹²â²õ¾±²¹â€™s economy will continue to evolve in the coming years.
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World Bank. (April 15, 2025). Malaysia: Distribution of employment by economic sector from 2013 to 2023 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 26, 2026, from /statistics/319036/employment-by-economic-sector-in-malaysia/
World Bank. "Malaysia: Distribution of employment by economic sector from 2013 to 2023." Chart. April 15, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 26, 2026. /statistics/319036/employment-by-economic-sector-in-malaysia/
World Bank. (2025). Malaysia: Distribution of employment by economic sector from 2013 to 2023. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 26, 2026. /statistics/319036/employment-by-economic-sector-in-malaysia/
World Bank. "Malaysia: Distribution of Employment by Economic Sector from 2013 to 2023." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 15 Apr 2025, /statistics/319036/employment-by-economic-sector-in-malaysia/
World Bank, Malaysia: Distribution of employment by economic sector from 2013 to 2023 ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/319036/employment-by-economic-sector-in-malaysia/ (last visited July 26, 2026)
Malaysia: Distribution of employment by economic sector from 2013 to 2023 [Graph], World Bank, April 15, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/319036/employment-by-economic-sector-in-malaysia/