BPS: Employment Absorption Rises by 522,000 up to May 2026

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has recorded an increase in employment absorption of 522,000 people between February and May 2026. Deputy for Balance Sheet and Statistical Analysis M. Edy Mahmud stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday (5/8/2026) that this rise aligns with growth in the labour force, which reached 155.41 million people, an increase of 497,000 individuals. “Of that labour force, 148.19 million people are employed. The number of employed people increased by 522,000 compared to conditions in February 2026,” Edy said. BPS noted that as of May 2026, the working-age population totalled 220.23 million, an increase of 689,000 people compared to February 2026. Breaking down the employed population, full-time workers numbered 98.99 million, an increase of 391,000. Part-time workers rose by 72,000 to 38.42 million, and underemployed workers increased by 59,000 to 10.79 million. BPS also recorded a rise in the Labour Force Participation Rate (TPAK). “The TPAK in May 2026 was 70.57%, up from 70.56% in February 2026,” Edy said. By gender, the male TPAK was higher, reaching 85.14%, an increase from February 2026, while the female TPAK stood at 55.84%, a decline from the previous period. Meanwhile, BPS noted that in May 2026, the three sectors absorbing the most workers were agriculture, trade, and industry. “Compared to February 2026, the number of workers in the agriculture sector increased by around 106,000 people. In the trade sector, it decreased by 128,000 people, and in the industrial sector, it increased by 9,000 people,” Edy said.