BPS Records Unemployment In Indonesia As Of August 2021 At 9.1 Million, A Decrease Of 670 Thousand People From 2020

A number of workers leave the Kahatex factory in Sumedang Regency, West Java (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded that the number of unemployed in Indonesia as of August 2021 was 9.1 million people, a decrease of 670 thousand compared to the same period last year of 9.77 million people.

Head of BPS Margo Yuwono stated that this was in line with the decline in the national open unemployment rate from 7.07 percent to 6.49 percent as of August 2021.

"Our unemployment rate this year is lower than last August. The open unemployment rate in August 2021 reached 6.49 percent or 9.1 million people, down from August 2020 which reached 7.07 percent," he said at a press conference in Jakarta, Between, Friday, November 5th.

The open unemployment rate itself is an indicator used to measure labor that is not absorbed by the labor market and illustrates the underutilization of the labor supply.

The open unemployment rate as of August 2021 was 6.49 percent. This means that out of 100 people in the workforce, there are around six unemployed. In August 2021 the open unemployment rate fell by 0.58 percentage point compared to August 2020, but increased by 0.23 percentage point compared to February 2021.

In August 2021, the male open unemployment rate was 6.74 percent or higher than the female open unemployment rate of 6.11 percent. The male open unemployment rate fell compared to August 2020 and February 2021, by 0.72 percentage point and 0.07 percentage point, respectively.

Meanwhile, the female open unemployment rate fell by 0.35 percentage points compared to August 2020 and increased by 0.70 percentage points compared to February 2021.

When viewed by area of residence, the urban open unemployment rate is 8.32 percent or almost twice that of rural areas which is 4.17 percent.

The open unemployment rate by area of residence has the same pattern as the national one, which is down compared to August 2020 and increasing compared to February 2021.

Compared to August 2020, the urban and rural open unemployment rates fell by 0.66 percentage points and 0.54 percentage points, respectively, but when compared to February 2021, urban and rural open unemployment rose by 0.32 percentage points and 0.06 points, respectively. percent points.

In August 2021, the population of the young age group 15-24 years old is the highest open unemployment reaching 19.55 percent, while the population of the older age group over 60 years old is at the lowest at 2.73 percent.

The same pattern occurred in August 2020 and February 2021, namely compared to August 2020 there was an increase in open unemployment in the old age group by 1.03 percentage points.

However, when compared to February 2021, the increase in unemployment in the young and old age groups was 1.52 percentage points and 1.44 percentage points, respectively.