BPS: Workers Affected By COVID-19 In West Sumatra 179 Thousand People, Including 22 Thousand Unemployed

SUMBAR - Positive confirmation cases of the corona virus in West Sumatra (West Sumatra) have begun to slope, making workers affected by COVID-19 also reduced. This is known from the latest data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). .

"In February 2021, the number of workers affected by COVID-19 reached 288,000 people, in February 2022 it fell to 179,000 people," said West Sumatra BPS Head Herum Fajarwati in Padang, Tuesday, May 10.

He detailed that of the 179 thousand workers, 22 thousand people were unemployed due to COVID-19, not the labor force due to COVID-19, 12.10 thousand people were temporarily unemployed due to COVID-19, reaching 6.68 thousand people, experiencing a reduction in hours. 137.41 thousand people work.

In February 2022, the working age population in West Sumatra was 4.22 million people with a workforce of 2.87 million people.

He explained that the workforce is residents aged 15 years or over who work or have a job, but temporarily do not work.

Meanwhile, open unemployment is people who do not have a job and are looking for work or are preparing a business, or are not looking for work, because they feel it is impossible to get one, as well as those who already have a job but have not started working.

The open unemployment rate in February 2022 reached 177.22 thousand people or decreased by 7.34 thousand people. The unemployed are still dominated by 12.41 percent of diploma graduates, 11.46 percent of vocational school graduates, 8.43 percent of universities, and 7.52 percent of high school graduates.

Based on the level of education, only 15.64 percent of the working population has a higher education or diploma and above and the most dominant is elementary school graduates as much as 34.25 percent.

He conveyed that the largest employment structure in West Sumatra until February 2022 was still dominated by the agricultural sector, namely 31.92 percent, trade 22.20 percent, processing industry 9 percent, food and drink accommodation 8.02 percent.

While the main employment status until February 2022 is labor, employees and employees 32.90 percent, self-employed 20.98 percent, trying to be assisted by temporary workers 17.96 percent, family workers 14.84 percent, freelance workers in agriculture 5.69 percent .