BPS Deputy Head: Economic Census Will Measure Education Sector's Contribution to Yogyakarta's Economy
The Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) has reaffirmed its position as a special region that excels not only in education and culture but also possesses strong economic resilience. This advantage is a key reason for Statistics Indonesia (BPS) to comprehensively map the role of various economic sectors in DIY through the implementation of the 2026 Economic Census (SE2026).
Deputy Head of BPS RI, Sonny Harry Budiomo Harmadi, officially launched the SE2026 at Teras Malioboro 1, Yogyakarta, on Thursday (18/6). He explained that the census results will be able to more accurately measure the contribution of the education sector to DIY’s economy.
“If we look at it, education plays an extraordinary role in building the nation, both in developing people and the economy. So, after the census is completed, we will be able to calculate the contribution of the education sector to the economy in DIY,” Sonny explained.
DIY is known as a ‘City of Students’, a destination for students from all over Indonesia. The presence of various universities and educational institutions not only produces high-quality human resources but also creates diverse economic activities that support community life. This excellence is reflected in DIY’s Human Development Index (IPM) achievement, which ranks second highest in Indonesia, demonstrating that education is a primary foundation of regional development.
Through SE2026, BPS will obtain a more complete picture of the linkages between the education sector and various economic activities, ranging from trade, services, housing, and transportation to other supporting sectors. Besides being known as a City of Students, DIY is also a centre of culture with a wealth of noble cultural heritage. In 2024, DIY recorded the highest Cultural Development Index (IPK) in Indonesia with a score of 71.04.
The launch of SE2026 in Yogyakarta also highlighted local cultural values. The peak of the event was marked by the release of a jemparing, or traditional arrow, an Indonesian intangible cultural heritage, as a symbol of the commencement of SE2026 in DIY.
Amidst various global economic challenges, DIY managed to record economic growth of 5.49 percent throughout 2025, the highest on Java Island. This achievement demonstrates the resilience of the regional economy, supported by various sectors including education, tourism, culture, trade, and MSMEs.
Through SE2026, BPS will present complete, up-to-date, and integrated economic data as a basis for more targeted economic development planning. More than 600,000 business actors will be recorded. To support the census implementation in DIY, BPS has deployed 4,082 field officers who will record approximately 606,000 business actors.
The launch of SE2026 at Teras Malioboro 1 was chosen because the area is one of the centres for MSMEs, shopping tourism, and modern culinary activities, symbolising the economic dynamism of Yogyakarta’s community. During the event, MSME actors were also involved through the distribution of shopping vouchers to participants.
SE2026 introduces several innovations compared to previous economic censuses. In addition to covering all economic sectors, the data collection will be conducted door-to-door to households and business actors, resulting in a more comprehensive economic picture. BPS is also utilising digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support the data collection process, assisting officers in improving data quality while minimising input errors.
The success of SE2026 heavily depends on the active participation of the community and business actors. For this reason, Sonny once again invited the public to remember the simple slogan “TIR”: Terima petugas SE2026 (Accept the SE2026 officer), Isi data dengan benar (Fill in the data correctly), and Rahasia terjaga (Secrecy is maintained). He also reminded all census officers to ensure no families or businesses are missed and to maintain the quality of the data collected.
Deputy Governor of DIY, Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Aryo Paku Alam X (KGPAA Paku Alam X), invited the entire Yogyakarta community to actively participate and provide accurate data. According to him, the results of SE2026 will serve as an important foundation in formulating regional economic development policies, particularly in encouraging MSME growth, investment, and improving community welfare.
“We need a complete portrait of our business dynamics. This data will be the basis for increasing MSME growth, investment, and ensuring the benefits are felt more widely by all the people,” he said.
The regional government is one of the parties that will benefit greatly from the SE2026 results. The data produced will assist the government in formulating evidence-based policies without having to spend its own budget through the regional budget (APBD) for data collection. The prerequisite, of course, is full support during the implementation of SE2026.
With its characteristics as a City of Students, a national cultural centre, and the region with the highest economic growth on Java Island, DIY is one of the strategic areas in the implementation of the 2026 Economic Census. The results of this census are expected to provide a complete picture of the region’s economic strength and serve as an important foundation for more inclusive and sustainable development.