BPS Claims the Number of Unemployed Has Decreased to 7.24 Million People

JAKARTA - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said that the number of unemployed in Indonesia reached 7.24 million people in February 2026, from a total labor force of 154.91 million people.

The figure decreased by around 35 thousand people compared to the same period last year.

"The labor force that is not absorbed by the labor market becomes unemployed, namely 7.24 million people, of which this number has decreased by 35 thousand people compared to February 2025," said BPS Head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 5.

Meanwhile, the number of people working in February 2026 was recorded at 147.67 million people.

Amalia explained that the decline in the number of unemployed was reflected in the Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) which was at the level of 4.68 percent in February 2026, down 0.08 percentage points from February 2025.

Based on its area, urban TPT was recorded at 5.60 percent, down from 5.73 percent in February 2025. Meanwhile, rural TPT was 3.20 percent, lower than 3.33 percent in the same period last year.

Furthermore, Amalia explained that the absorption of labor so far is still dominated by the agricultural sector, large and retail trade, and industry, which together absorb 60.29 percent of the national workforce.

In addition, the number of people working both in the formal and informal sectors increased in the period from February 2025 to February 2026.

Formal workers increased from 59.19 million people to 59.93 million people, while informal workers rose from 86.58 million people to 87.74 million people.

For information, referring to the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards, a person who works at least one hour a week is included in the working population category.

BPS divides the working population into three categories, namely full-time workers (minimum 35 hours per week), part-time workers (less than 35 hours per week and not looking for another job), and half unemployed (working 1-34 hours per week and still looking for or willing to accept additional jobs).

In February 2026, the proportion of full-time workers was recorded at 66.77 percent, part-time workers at 25.97 percent, and half unemployed at 7.27 percent. The proportion of full-time workers increased compared to February 2025 which was 66.19 percent.