Malaysia's labour productivity and employment rises in Q2 2018

Malaysia's labour productivity, as measured by per hour worked, grew 3.7% in the second quarter in 2018, as compared to the 4.3% growth registered in Q1 2018, latest data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia revealed. The economy expanded 4.5% (Q1 2018: 5.4%) while employment grew 2.0% (Q1 2018: 3.0%).

The labour productivity of various sectors are listed below:

• Agriculture sector - Rebounded to 3.4% from a negative growth of 2.1% in Q1 2018. Hours worked declined at a faster rate of 5.7% (Q1 2018: 5.0%). Labour productivity per employment grew 1.3% (Q1 2018: -1.4%) as total employment dropped 3.7% (Q1 2018: 4.2%).
• Mining and Quarrying sector - Moderated to 6.2% (Q1 2018: 10.2%). Value added recorded a negative growth of 2.2% (Q1 2018: 0.1%) while hours worked decreased 7.9% (Q1 2018: -9.1%). Labour productivity posted 5.2% (Q1 2018: 8.3%) as employment fell 7.0% (Q1 2018: -7.6%).
• Manufacturing sector - Contracted to 1.7% (Q1 2018: 4.9%). Value added registered slower growth of 4.9% (Q1 2018: 5.3%) while hours worked went up 3.1% (Q1 2018: 0.4%). Labour productivity per employment also posted a slower growth of 1.5% (Q1 2018: 3.3%) as employment grew at a higher pace of 3.4% (Q1 2018: 2.0%).
• Construction sector - The growth of value added was 4.7% (Q1 2018: 4.9%) while hours worked declined 0.3% (Q1 2018: 4.9%). The growth of labour productivity per employment expanded 4.0 per cent (Q1 2018: 0.7%) as employment posted slower growth of 0.7 per cent (Q1 2018: 4.2%).
• Services sector - Moderated to 4.9% (Q1 2018: 6.5%). Value added registered 6.5% (Q1 2018: 6.5%) while hours worked grew 1.5%. Labour productivity per employment recorded a growth of 2.5% (Q1 2018: 4.6%) as employment increased 3.9% (Q1 2018: 1.8%).

ALSO READ: How Malaysia’s labour productivity rate fared in 2017

Infographic / Department of Statistics, Malaysia

Photo / 123RF