In the second quarter of 2024, Malaysia's labor market showed a positive growth trend, with median monthly salaries in various economic sectors significantly increasing compared to the same period last year. This trend not only injects new vitality into the country's economic development, but also triggers further attention to income distribution issues.

According to the latest survey data from the Department of Statistics, as of June 2024, the number of formal employees in Malaysia has reached 6.73 million, an increase of 2.0% compared to June 2023. This growth not only reflects the vitality of the labor market, but also reflects the country's efforts in promoting employment.

In terms of gender distribution, there are 3.72 million male formal employees, accounting for 55.3% of the total, with a median monthly salary of RM2782. The number of female formal employees is 3.01 million, accounting for 44.7% of the total, with a median monthly salary of 2700 ringgit. Although there is a certain gap between men and women in the median monthly salary, this gap has narrowed compared to the past, indicating a gradual improvement in gender equality in terms of salary.

In terms of age group, employees aged 45 to 49 have the highest median monthly salary, reaching RM3627, making them the top performers among all age groups. This data not only reveals the value of employees in this age group in the workplace, but also reminds us to pay attention to the career development and salary benefits of middle-aged employees. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the median monthly salary for employees under the age of 20 remains at RM1500, without any growth, which may require more attention and support from society and policy levels.

Among various economic sectors, the median monthly salary in the mining and mining industry is the highest, reaching 5900 ringgit, with a growth rate of up to 13.5%. This data not only reflects the prosperity of the industry, but also reveals the salary returns of high-risk and high investment industries. Relatively speaking, the median monthly salary in the agricultural sector is the lowest, only RM2000, but even so, it has achieved an annual growth rate of 3.8%. This demonstrates the importance of agriculture as a fundamental industry in the national economy and also serves as a remindergovernmentPay attention to the income and welfare of agricultural practitioners.

From a regional distribution perspective, Kuala Lumpur has the highest median monthly salary, reaching 3982 ringgit, followed by Selangor at 3000 ringgit and Penang at 2800 ringgit. The median monthly salary in Kelantan, Perlis and Sabah is relatively low, at RM1645, RM1682 and RM1864 respectively. This data not only reveals the differences in economic development between different regions, but also serves as a remindergovernmentPay attention to employment and salary issues in economically underdeveloped areas.

The Bureau of Statistics has divided employee salaries into 9 groups, with the lowest paid regular employees earning only RM1500 per month, while the highest paid regular employees earn at least RM8800 per month. This gap has increased by 3.5% compared to June last year, making the income of the highest earners six times that of the lowest earners. This data not only reveals the harsh reality of income inequality in Malaysia, but also serves as a remindergovernmentPay attention to the issue of income inequality and seek effective solutions.