by NUR HANANI AZMAN/ pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

The unemployment rate in May 2021 was slightly lower at 4.5% as compared to April 4.6% despite selected states were placed in the movement control order to contain the spread of the Covid-19.

 Accordingly, fewer unemployed persons were registered at 728,100 persons (April 2021: 742,700 persons) and it was on a downward trend since February 2021.

“In May last year, the country experienced an all-time high monthly unemployment rate of 5.3% with 826,100 unemployed persons.

“Thus, in comparison with the same month of the previous year, the number was smaller yet still above 500,000 persons recorded during the pre-pandemic period,” Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in a statement today.

The number of employed persons in May 2021 increased marginally by 0.1% to 15.37 million persons (April 2021: 15.35 million persons).

The employment-to- population ratio was unchanged at 65.4%.

By economic sector, the number of employed persons in the services sector posted a month-on-month increase particularly in wholesale & retail trade; food & beverages services and human health & social work activities.