Sabah’s unemployment rate fell to 5.7% in Q3 2025, down from 8.1% two years ago, with 110,000 jobless compared to 136,000 in 2019
SANDAKAN: Sabah’s unemployment rate has dropped to 5.7% in the third quarter of 2025.
This represents a significant improvement from the 6.7% rate recorded during the same period in 2019.
State DAP chairman Phoong Jin Zhe revealed the number of unemployed individuals fell from 136,000 people in Q3 2019 to 110,000 people in Q3 2025.
He noted that when he first became Minister of Industrial Development two years ago, the state’s unemployment rate stood at 8.1%.
“This is the biggest drop since the post-COVID-19 pandemic,” he told a media conference at the Tanjong Papat DAP operations room here today.
Phoong added that the working population increased by 170,000 people from 1.67 million workers in the first quarter of 2024.
The PH candidate for the Likas state constituency said this achievement proves the effectiveness of investment attraction and continuous industrial development efforts.
Regarding his strategy to appeal to the 53% of voters aged 40 and below, he said the best approach involves strengthening the economy and creating more job opportunities.
“This will attract youth participation in the state’s development,” he said.
Phoong faces a six-cornered contest in the Likas constituency, which has 19,100 electors.
The Election Commission has set November 29 as polling day, with early voting scheduled for November 25. – Bernama
