Sarawak third-highest contributor to Malaysia’s wage recipients at 7.6 pct

A file photo of an aerial view of Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Sept 21: Sarawak accounted for 7.6 per cent of Malaysia’s Malaysian citizen wage recipients in 2025, making it the third-largest contributor after Selangor and Johor, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

In a media release, Selangor posted the highest percentage share of wage recipients at 25.6 per cent of the total Malaysian citizens paid employees, followed by Johor with 13.6 per cent.

Meanwhile, Putrajaya recorded the highest mean monthly salaries and wages at RM5,417, while Kuala Lumpur recorded RM4,955, and Selangor, RM4,258.

“Five states showed mean monthly salaries and wages above the national level, such as Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pulau Pinang (RM3,912), and Labuan (RM3,887),” said the media release.

Overall, Malaysia’s labour market continued its positive momentum in 2025, with the number of monthly salaries and wages recipients reaching 12.01 million persons (2024: 11.96 million persons).

Malaysian citizens accounted for 10.38 million persons or 86.4 per cent of all full-time paid employees. On the same note, the mean monthly salaries and wages for citizens rose by 4.1 per cent to RM3,803 compared to RM3,652 in 2024. The median monthly salaries and wages also increased by 5.3 per cent to RM2,940 (2024: RM2,793).

Services sector representing 71.5 per cent was the primary contributor to an increase in the number of wage recipients, went up 1.8 per cent to 7.42 million persons.

Meanwhile, mining and quarrying remained the highest mean monthly salaries and wages at RM6,175, followed by services (RM3,993), manufacturing (RM3,357), construction (RM3,188), and agriculture (RM2,575).

Skilled employees encompassed 36.6 per cent of the total wage recipients, registering the highest mean monthly salaries and wages at RM5,799 (2024: RM5,582). This was followed by semi-skilled which posted a growth rate of 4.2 per cent to RM2,714 (2024: RM2,604; 5.2 per cent), with a share of 55.6 per cent.

Likewise, low-skilled category edged up by 2.6 per cent to RM2,184 compared to RM2,128 in the previous year.

The department said that the growth in mean and median monthly salaries and wages in 2025 reflects improvements in the labour market and workers’ incomes.

“Looking ahead, sustained efforts to enhance productivity, strengthen skills, and create high-value jobs are crucial to support sustainable real wage growth and workers’ well-being.

“In line with the aspirations of the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (13MP), developing a competitive and productive workforce, alongside strengthening labour market reforms, is essential to supporting sustainable and inclusive wage growth.” — DayakDaily