Based on official statistics, this page explains how the printing industry in Malaysia has changed and what it means for study and career pathways.
This monitor presents trends in Malaysia’s printing industry (MSIC 18110) from 2019 to 2025. It shows how the industry moved through contraction in 2020, partial recovery in 2021, and stronger expansion from 2022 onward, while highlighting differences between sales growth, employment, and wages.
The data shows that Malaysia’s printing industry did not disappear after digitalisation. After a decline in 2020, the industry recovered and expanded from 2022 onward, reaching its highest recorded sales in 2025.
Growth has been driven more by higher output and changing production methods than by large increases in labour. This suggests a shift toward more efficient operations, new technologies, and evolving roles in the industry.
For students, this means the printing sector is changing rather than disappearing. Opportunities may increasingly involve digital printing, packaging, design integration, and production management rather than traditional large-scale print work alone.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Monthly Manufacturing Statistics; compiled from Muhammad Yusuf Bin Masod, Sectoral Performance of Malaysia’s Printing Industry, 2019–2025.