Working Age Population Affected By Pandemic Decreases In Riau, What Happens There?

Photo Illustration (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Riau's Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recorded the working-age population affected by COVID-19 in February 2021 in Riau down 39.48 percent. What's going on?

If converted, that percentage is equal to the amount of 205.65 thousand, from the previous recorded in August of 315,280 thousand. Head of BPS Riau Misfaruddin explained the cause, namely the gradual economic recovery.

"This is due in other words to the gradual recovery of economic activity in this area in 2021 with different compositions," said Misfaruddin.

According to him, the composition of the working-age population affected by COVID-19 consists of 27.13 thousand unemployed people due to COVID-19, 9.98 thousand non-labor force (BAK) people due to COVID-19, and 9.66 thousand people temporarily out of work due to COVID-19.

In addition, 268.51 thousand people worked due to COVID-19.

"The four components decreased compared to August 2020. The biggest decrease was in the working population which experienced a reduction in working hours due to COVID-19 as many as 177.80 thousand people," he said.

As of February 2020, the working-age population in Riau Province affected by COVID-19 consists of 154.23 thousand men and 161.04 thousand women.

The contribution of women affected by COVID-19 is greater than that of men, especially in bak components due to COVID-19 which are all women.

"Bak component contribution due to COVID-19 increased compared to August 2020 which was previously 83.32 percent," he said.

He added that based on the area of residence, the working-age population affected by COVID-19 in Riau Province in February 2021 consists of 183.81 thousand urban residents and 131.46 thousand rural residents.

In each component, the contribution of urban residents affected by COVID-19 is more than rural residents. In the unemployment component due to COVID-19, the contribution of urban residents affected by COVID-19 reached 73.61 percent or more than three times that of rural residents.