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East Asia and Pacific

Graduate jobs and salaries in Malaysia

Updated Data years: 2022 How we use data

Quick answer

Their unemployment rate was 2.2%, against 2.3% for all adults aged 25 and over (2022).

Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)

Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Malaysia?

Unemployment rate by education level, 2022
Education levelAdults 25+Young people 15–24
Less than basic education4.8%20.9%
Basic education2.7%7.8%
Intermediate education2.1%11.6%
Advanced (tertiary) education2.2%13.5%
All levels2.3%11.7%

Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 14 lowest of 130 countries with data. The East Asia and Pacific median is 2.3%.

Unemployment over time, adults 25+

Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
0.01.83.6 201520162018202020212022

Studying and working in Malaysia

Rules on student visas, work after graduation and recognition of qualifications change often. Use the official sources below and check the date on any advice you read.

Guide: how to choose a country to study in · Guide: getting your degree recognised abroad

Country context

Population
36M (2025)
GDP per person (PPP)
$41,498 (2025)
Tertiary enrolment (gross)
38.5% (2024)

Questions about graduate jobs in Malaysia

What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Malaysia?

In 2022, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Malaysia was 2.2%, compared with 2.3% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 13.5%.

Where can I find official information about studying in Malaysia?

Start with the official study portal and immigration pages linked on this page. They set out entry requirements, student visas and any rights to work after graduating, which change more often than most guides are updated.

Compare with other countries in East Asia and Pacific

Compare Malaysia side by side

  • Australia

    +28%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2021)

    East Asia and Pacific

  • South Korea

    2.6%
    unemployment, tertiary-educated adults (2025)

    East Asia and Pacific

  • Myanmar

    -16%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2020)

    East Asia and Pacific

  • Thailand

    +74%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2025)

    East Asia and Pacific

  • Cambodia

    +54%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2025)

    East Asia and Pacific

  • Vietnam

    +25%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)

    East Asia and Pacific

Sources

  1. ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2022
  2. World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Malaysia: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/malaysia/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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Notes from the data source
  • Employment definition: Excluding own-use production workers
  • Age coverage - maximum age: 64 years old