KUALA LUMPUR (March 23): Salaries and wages paid in the manufacturing sector were recorded at RM89.5 billion in 2021, an increase of 3.3% compared to 2020, due to a rise in the number of persons working in the sector.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) in a statement on Thursday (March 23) said the highest salaries and wages paid were recorded by the electrical, electronic and optical products sub-sector worth RM27.6 billion, followed by the petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products sub-sector worth RM19.5 billion.

Meanwhile, monies paid for the non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products sub-sector totalled RM13.5 billion.

The number of persons engaged in the sector increased by 2.5% to record 2.3 million in 2021, largely contributed by the electrical, electronic and optical products sub-sector, which registered 573,675 persons.

This was followed by the petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products and non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products sub-sectors.

The manufacturing sector registered a strong growth of 17.4% in gross output in 2021, standing at RM1.6 billion against RM1.3 billion in the previous year, said the DOSM.

The petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products sub-sector contributed the largest share of 31.6%, with an increase of 28.2% to RM508.9 billion (2020: RM396.9 billion), it said.

Intermediate input increased by 18.2%, with a value of RM1.2 billion.

“The value added to the manufacturing sector expanded by 14.6% to RM355.1 billion, compared with RM309.9 billion in 2020. In terms of contributions, the sub-sector of petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products was the main contributor, with a share of 34.3%. The value added for this sub-sector stood at RM121.8 billion (2020: RM96.9 billion), with a double-digit growth of 25.6%,” the DOSM said.