Employees in Malaysia saw remuneration rise in 2021

Due to economic and social activities, the average salaries and wages received by employees increased by 3.5% last year.
By: | October 7, 2022
Topics: Compensation and Benefits | Malaysia | News

The average monthly salaries and wages received by employees increased by 3.5% in 2021 to RM3,037 (US$655) from RM2,933 (US$633) in 2020, according to the 2021 Salary and Wage Survey Report released by the Statistics Department (DOSM).

Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Chief Statistician of the DOSM, said the number of salary and wage earners in Malaysia was 9.7 million in 2021, an increase of 3.4% compared to 9.4 million in 2020. 

“The increase in monthly salaries and wages was contributed partly by economic and social activities that continued in the second half of 2021, after the country was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he explained.

According to the report, the median monthly salaries and wages recorded an increase from RM2,062 (US$445) in 2020 to RM2,250 (US$485) in 2021. 

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Dr Mohd Uzir continued, “In 2021, it was found that the median monthly salaries and wages received by male workers was RM2,315 (US$499) and female workers RM2,145 (US$463), an increase of 10.6% and 6.2% respectively, compared to 2020. The average monthly salaries and wages of male workers increased by 4.1% to RM3,085 (US$665) and female workers increased by 2.7% to RM2,968 (US$640), compared to the previous year.”

He said the median value and average monthly salaries, as well as wages for educated employees at the tertiary level recorded an increase at RM3,794 (US$818) in 2021, compared to RM3,499 (US$755) in 2020, reported The Edge Markets.