KUALA LUMPUR: Kenanga Research expects Malaysia's labour market to gradually recover in 2022 underpinned by a higher vaccination rate, relaxation of pandemic-related restrictions, reopening of borders and various ongoing policy support.
Nonetheless, the firm said the downside risks remained associated with the potential surge of Covid-19 cases brought by the new variant, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis and China's economic slowdown due to its zero-Covid policy.
"Against these backdrops, we expect the unemployment rate to settle at 3.9 per cent in 2022," it said in a note.
According to Kenanga Research, data from the Department of Statistic Malaysia (DOSM) said unemployed persons fell for the seven straight months and at the fastest pace since November 2021.
This reflected a continued recovery in the labour market, underpinned by the relaxation of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions amid higher vaccination rate.
"The number of unemployed persons fell to 671800 from 680400 in January, the lowest since March 2020 and almost reaching the pre-pandemic level. The number of those outside the labour force fell for the seventh straight month (0.2 per cent month month (MoM) and 0.1 per cent to 7.32 million in January) the lowest since February 2020," it said.
Kenanga Research said employment expanded 0.3 per cent MoM on higher new job creation, hitting 15.73 million people, a record high.
The labour force growth expanded unchanged at 0.2 per cent MoM, bringing the total labour force to a record high of 16.40 million persons (January :16.36 million).
"New job creation sustained an increase to 44800 from 37500 in January, highest in three months," it added.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022/04/787691/malaysias-labour-market-slowly-recover-says-kenanga-research