Kuala lumpur: The 2026 Economic Census will assess small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) readiness in terms of technology adoption, said the Statistics Department of Malaysia (DOSM). Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin stated that the five-yearly census will provide a comprehensive picture of technology usage, skilled workforce levels, and SMEs’ digital capabilities in line with the needs of Malaysia’s economic development.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Uzir highlighted the importance of the census in evaluating the resilience of SMEs and their relationships with large companies within the economic chain. He noted that in several industries, large companies play a key role in supporting SMEs, while SMEs also support the operations of large companies. This data is vital to understanding the strengths and interdependence between the two.
Mohd Uzir mentioned that the 2026 census involves approximately 1.2 million business establishments nationwide and will serve as a benchmark to assess data accuracy collected through monthly and quarterly surveys. The 10-month census, conducted simultaneously nationwide, will also enable DOSM to capture data from the informal sector, which is often difficult to track. This sector, despite being easy to start and close, contributes to the economy, and conducting the census simultaneously will ensure their information is not left out.
On technical improvements, DOSM has released a new Malaysia Standard Industrial Classification (MSIC), increasing the number of five-digit classifications by six percent to about 1,248 categories. The MSIC is a numerical coding system developed by DOSM to classify economic activities into sectors and subsectors for data collection, organization, and business analysis.
Mohd Uzir also emphasized DOSM’s efforts to strengthen data integration by combining census information with administrative, trade, and employment data to enhance the accuracy of national statistics. With data integration, consistency between data sources can be cross-checked to produce more accurate economic statistics. DOSM will implement the census starting February next year.