Page 99 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 2

STS463 Siti Asiah A. et al.

The need to develop labour accounts in Malaysia:
An assessment
Siti Asiah Ahmad, Noraliza Mohamad Ali, Nur Layali Mohd Ali Khan, Nur
Hurriyatul Huda Abdullah San, Nurfarahin Harun
Department of Statistics Malaysia

Abstract
Labour statistics in Malaysia are available from various sources. These statistics
are compiled using different approaches, at different intervals or frequencies
and at times adopting different concepts and definitions. This is due to the
difference in objectives and purposes of the data collection. Often, these
statistics can be found scattered across agencies. The presence of these
statistics offers opportunity for Malaysia to develop labour account. The
statistics can provide information on the transition from employment,
unemployment and inactivity in four quadrants which presents statistics on
jobs, persons, volume and payments. Therefore, this paper aimed to study the
feasibility to develop labour accounts in Malaysia as well as to study all the
possible data sources needed to materialize the accounts. The Malaysian
Labour Account results are important for statistical offices and also data users
because with labour account, contradictory result between data sources can
be eliminated and a comprehensive overview of the situation on labour market
is possible.

Keywords
Labour account, jobs, persons, volume, payments

1. Introduction
Labour is an important factor for economic growth and the country
development. In Malaysia, labour supply is measured based on Labour Force
Survey (LFS) conducted by Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) since
1982. This survey used household approach. Besides household approach,
DOSM also conducted censuses and surveys on establishment which provide
labour demands statistics among others Economic Census (EC), Quarterly
Employment Survey (QES) and Annual Economic Survey (AES). Labour market
information are also available in other agencies for example, Ministry of
Human Resource (MOHR) and Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).
Consolidation and compilation of labour statistics in Malaysia is quite
challenging considering various data sources. Among the challenges faced in
consolidating and compiling labour statistics are coverage, concept used and
reference period. Thus, it is important for Malaysia to harmonize labour market
information through development of labour account.

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