MBSB Research: unemployment rate to stay at 3.0pct in 2026

MBSB Research expects Malaysia's unemployment rate to remain at 3.0 per cent in 2026, unchanged from 2025, supported by job creation in domestic services and consumer spending. The research house said the 13th Malaysia Plan, National Semiconductor Strategy and Gear-Up initiatives should drive high-skilled jobs, with a possible minimum wage review in the 2027 Budget. Job vacancies rose by 126,200 to 368,600 in August, while the jobless rate held at 3.0 per cent for a fourth month in July.