Poor Population In South Sulawesi Add 23,410 People

JAKARTA - The percentage of poor people in South Sulawesi Province in September 2020 was recorded at 800,240 people or an increase of 23,410 people compared to March 2020 which was only 776,830 people.

Head of BPS Sulsel Yos Rusdiansyah said the increase in the number of poor people in South Sulawesi as a percentage was 8.99 percent.

"Our latest data shows that the poverty rate has increased by 23,410 thousand or an increase of 0.27 percent in September 2020 compared to March 2020," said Yos in Makassar, reported by Antara, Monday, January 15.

For comparison, the number of poor people in September 2020 against September 2019 experienced an increase of 40,660 from 759,580 people or an increase of 0.43 percent percentage.

Yos Rusdiansyah said, during the period September 2019-September 2020, the poor in urban areas experienced an increase of 32.69 thousand people. Meanwhile, in rural areas, it also experienced an increase of 7.97 thousand people.

"The percentage of poor people in urban and rural areas has increased by 0.70 and 0.35 percentage points, respectively. But the highest is in cities," he said.

He stated that there were several reasons for the increase in the poverty rate, one of which was the COVID-19 pandemic which had an impact on economic activities and people's income.

Another reason, Yos continued, was because many workers were affected by layoffs. The Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) is even more gaping. As a result, growth in household consumption has declined.

"Moreover, our economic growth in South Sulawesi experienced a contraction in the third quarter," he said.