BPS Reveals Indonesian Unemployment Reaches 7.22 Million People in May 2026

Deputy for Balance and Statistical Analysis, BPS, M. Edy Mahmud. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that the number of unemployed in Indonesia in May 2026 fell to 7.22 million people, compared to February 2026, the number decreased by about 24 thousand people, along with the increasing number of working population.

BPS Deputy for Balance and Statistical Analysis, M. Edy Mahmud, said that the decline also contributed to the Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) to 4.65 percent, lower than 4.68 percent in February 2026.

"There are as many as 7.22 million unemployed or equivalent to an open unemployment rate of 4.65 percent. This figure is lower compared to February 2026 which was 4.68 percent or down about 0.03 percentage points," he said in a press conference, Wednesday, August 5.

According to him, the decline in the unemployment rate occurred in both male and female groups, and was felt in urban and rural areas.

On the other hand, the number of working population increased to 148.19 million people or increased by around 522 thousand people compared to February 2026 from this number, as many as 98.98 million people worked full-time, 38.42 million people were part-time workers, and 10.79 million people were classified as half unemployed.

In addition, BPS also recorded the number of the labor force in May 2026 reached 155.41 million people, up by around 497 thousand people compared to February 2026.

Meanwhile, the Labor Force Participation Rate (TPAK) increased slightly from 70.56 percent to 70.57 percent.

Based on the business field, the accommodation sector as well as the provision of food and drink became the largest labor absorber with an additional 195 thousand workers, the transportation and warehousing sector which recorded an addition of 121 thousand workers.

Overall, BPS recorded that the majority of business sectors experienced an increase in the number of workers compared to February 2026.

However, the composition of the Indonesian workforce is still dominated by workers with low education levels, namely by May 2026, as many as 35.40 percent of the working population have an elementary education or less, while diploma graduates to higher education only reach 13.18 percent.

In addition, the proportion of workers in the informal sector was recorded as falling slightly to 59.30 percent of the total working population.