Bad News For Riau, The Highest Unemployment Rate In Indonesia

Illustration - Demonstration workers reject the Omnibus Law on Cipta Kerja at the Kepri Governor's office, Dompak Island, Tanjungpinang. (Photo: Ogen / Antara)

JAKARTA - BPS records the open unemployment rate (TPT) in Riau Islands Province in February 2021 to be the highest in Indonesia, reaching 10.12 percent or above the national average level of 7.07 percent. However, the TPT in February 2021 in that area it decreased by 0.22 percentage points compared to August 2020, at which time the TPT touched the level of 10.34 percent.

"This means that out of 100 people in the workforce, there are around 10 unemployed," said Head of the Riau Islands Province BPS Agus Sudibyo in Tanjungpinang, reported by Antara, Thursday, May 6.

Based on gender, he said, in February 2020 the TPT for women was 11.11 percent higher than the TPT for men which was 9.56 percent.

Compared to February 2020, the TPT for men and women increased by 3.07 percentage points and 6.05 percentage points.

"Meanwhile, when compared to August 2020, men's TPT fell 1.31 percentage points while women's TPT increased 1.72 percentage points," he said.

He continued, in February 2021, the TPT in urban areas was 10.64 percent, almost three times the TPT in rural areas (3.78 percent). Compared to February 2020, urban and rural TPT increased by 4.34 percentage points and 1.45 percentage points.

However, when compared to August 2020, urban and rural TPT decreased by 0.25 percentage points and 1.63 percentage points respectively.

The TPT according to the education category had the same pattern in February 2021, August 2020, and February 2020. In February 2021, the TPT from SMK was still the highest compared to graduates of other education levels, which was 13.39 percent. with elementary education and below, amounting to 5.37 percent.

"Compared to February 2020, the TPT in almost all education categories has increased. However, compared to August 2020, the high school and university education categories have increased," said Agus.