SHAH ALAM, Dec 2 — The Bumiputera labour force expanded by 1.4 per cent to reach 9.9 million last year, with a participation rate of 67.4 per cent, the Statistics Department (DOSM) revealed.
According to Bumiputera Statistics 2025 released today, six million were males while the remaining 3.9 million were females. Their participation rate stood at 80.8 per cent and 53.8 per cent, respectively.
“The increase highlights continued participation in the workforce, with more Bumiputera entering various sectors of the economy, contributing to overall national productivity and economic development,” chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate continued to decline to 3.4 per cent — 3.3 per cent among men and 3.5 per cent among women.
Among those employed, 57.1 per cent had completed secondary education, while 37.1 per cent held tertiary qualifications, reflecting a workforce that is increasingly educated and skilled.
Graduate statistics also showed positive trends in 2024, with 3.7 million Bumiputera graduates recorded last year, of which 1.6 million were men and 2.1 million were women, with a labour force participation rate of 86 per cent.
“The graduate unemployment rate fell to 3.4 per cent, with 3.2 per cent for men and 3.6 per cent for women, reflecting improved employment opportunities in the labour market.”
The report also showed a rising number of Bumiputera professionals in key sectors, with 12,794 accountants, 9,480 lawyers, 9,538 pharmacists, 3,392 quantity surveyors, 1,089 engineers, 1,030 architects, and 365 land surveyors currently registered with their respective professional bodies.
The share of Bumiputera professionals to the total number of registered professionals in each field in 2025 was 32 per cent for accountants, 40.5 per cent for lawyers, 43.5 per cent for pharmacists, 66.3 per cent for quantity surveyors, 75.1 per cent for engineers, 40.9 per cent for architects, and 62.7 per cent for land surveyors.
On the real estate front, Bumiputera participation remained robust, accounting for 49.7 per cent of residential property transactions in 2024, valued at RM37.7 billion. Commercial property transactions also rose from RM2.3 billion in 2023 to RM2.8 billion in 2024.
Separately, Uzir said the Bumiputera population in 2025 grew by 0.9 per cent, reaching 21.8 million or 63.6 per cent of Malaysia’s total population. Of these, 11 million were male, while 10.8 million were female.
The chief statistician added that this data is vital for formulating policies that boost productivity, expand high-skill employment, and improve income mobility, offering a strategic platform to accelerate growth and ensure shared opportunities across society.
