Unemployment rate may go up to 5.5 pct this year, says chief statistician

The country is projected to record an unemployment rate of between 3.5 percent and 5.5 percent this year due to the impact from Covid-19, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said.

Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the government’s move to partially reopen the economy during the movement control order period (MCO) and the Prihatin Rakyat economic stimulus package would, however, assist workers and households in facing the critical situation induced by the coronavirus.