Malaysia To Roll Out New Support For Jobless Graduates, Diploma Holders
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said targeted measures will be announced soon to support unemployed graduates and diploma holders, despite Malaysia's jobless rate falling to 2.9% and expanded business aid.
Cover image via Anwar Ibrahim
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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will soon announce additional measures to support Malaysians who remain out of work, with a focus on unemployed graduates and diploma holders
He said the move aims to ensure young Malaysians' skills are not left unused, particularly as global economic pressures continue to affect hiring.
"I will announce additional measures soon to assist those who were out of work, including unemployed graduates and diploma holders," Anwar told reporters after chairing a roundtable session with representatives of financial institutions in Kuala Lumpur.
The session was also attended by Bank Negara Malaysia governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour and Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican.
Despite the planned support, Malaysia's labour market has shown signs of strength
The unemployment rate stood at 2.9% in February 2026, the lowest level in a decade, with only 506,800 people still out of work.
Anwar acknowledged the improvement but said certain groups continue to be left behind.
The upcoming measures come as Putrajaya continues rolling out broader economic support to cushion the impact of global disruptions, including the ongoing supply and energy crises.
Among the existing initiatives are fuel subsidies under the BUDI MADANI RON95 programme, as well as continued diesel subsidies in Sabah and Sarawak.
Additional support has also been introduced for targeted groups, including higher monthly assistance under the Agri-Commodity and BUDI Diesel programmes for individual diesel vehicle owners, farmers, and smallholders.
Incentives for paddy cultivation have also been increased.
At the same time, the government has expanded financial support for businesses
Anwar earlier announced an additional RM5 billion allocation to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by global economic pressures, bringing the total support to RM10 billion.
The financing support is channelled through schemes such as the Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan (SJPP), aimed at helping businesses maintain operations and protect jobs.
The government is expected to announce further details on the new measures for unemployed Malaysians in the coming weeks.
