The Number of Visitors visiting Sabah, Malaysia and the Unemployment Rate are Key Metrics for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

Sabah is Malaysia's second-largest state after Sarawak. Sabah is one of the few states continuously contributing to Malaysia's GDP growth. It is rich in natural resources (DOSM, 2021). This research investigates how the number of Malaysians who visit Sabah impacts the unemployment rate (SDG8, Decent Work and Economic Growth). Even though Sabah receives many domestic visitors yearly, the unemployment rate is relatively high. From 2012 to 2021, Sabah had the highest average unemployment rate in Malaysia, at 6.04%. According to Malaysia's Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey Report (2019) by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Sabah has the highest incidence of Poverty, with 23.9% and 19.5% in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Consequently, it is unsurprising that Sabah has the lowest GDP and is the poorest in Malaysia compared to other
states.