The third quarter of 2017, Malaysia’s labour productivity rose 4.2 per cent year on year to RM82,456 after registering 4.0 per cent (RM79,693) in the preceding quarter. The growth in tandem with the expansion of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 6.2 per cent. Simultaneously, employment grew 2.0 per cent against 1.8 per cent in Q2 2017.

Agriculture sector rebounded to 5.2 per cent at RM56,565 from a negative 1.2 per cent in the previous quarter. The value added of this sector grew 4.1% (Q2 2017: 5.9%) while employment dropped 1.1 per cent (Q2 2017: 7.2%).

Labour productivity in Mining and Quarrying sector posted a value at RM999,423 in Q3 2017. Growth of labour productivity of this sector continued its declining trend to a negative 8.5 per cent (Q2 2017: -3.3%).

Growth of labour productivity in Manufacturing sector stepped up to 5.1 per cent (RM112,205) from 4.3 per cent in Q2 2017. The growth of value added expanded strongly at 7.0 per cent (Q2 2017: 6.0%) while employment grew slightly at 1.7 per cent (Q2 2017: 1.6%).

Labour productivity of Construction sector grew by 4.8 per cent (Q2 2017: 8.7%) with a value of RM44,011 attributed by the slower performance in value added at 6.1 per cent (Q2 2017: 8.3%).

Services sector recorded a growth of labour productivity at 3.7 per cent (RM73,384) against 5.2 per cent in the previous quarter. In terms of value added, this sector expanded 6.6 per cent (Q2 2017: 6.3%) while employment increased 2.7 per cent (Q2 2017: 1.1%). Source: STATSMalaysia