BPS: 5 out of 100 Workers Still Unemployed

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) in February 2026 was recorded at 4.68%. This figure indicates a decrease compared to the same period the previous year, while also reflecting the dynamics of the labour market amid the growth of the national workforce. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that out of a total workforce of 154.91 million people, there were 7.24 million people who had not yet been absorbed into the job market. The absolute number of unemployed decreased by 0.035 million people from February 2025 to February 2026. This decline in unemployment numbers occurred alongside an increase in the number of employed people. In the same period, the number of working-age people employed rose by 1.896 million, reflecting additional absorption of labour in various economic sectors. Meanwhile, the working-age population reached 219.54 million people, showing a consistent increasing trend in line with population growth. This decline indicates that the proportion of the working-age population that is economically active remains relatively stagnant. When viewed by gender, male participation in the workforce is still much higher than that of females. The male Labour Force Participation Rate (TPAK) was recorded at 84.57%, up from 84.34% in February 2025. This difference reflects the ongoing gender gap in economic participation, which remains a characteristic of Indonesia’s labour market. Overall, the TPT in February 2026 at 4.68% experienced a decrease of 0.08 percentage points compared to February 2025. This means that out of every 100 people in the workforce, approximately five are unemployed. By gender, the male unemployment rate was 4.88%, higher than the female rate of 4.36%. Both experienced declines from the previous year, by 0.10 percentage points and 0.05 percentage points, respectively. Meanwhile, when viewed by region, the unemployment rate in urban areas is still higher than in rural areas. The urban TPT is 5.60%, while in rural areas it is 3.20%. Both saw a decrease of 0.13 percentage points compared to February 2025.