BPS Releases Employment Data: 7.24 Million People Still Unemployed

JAKARTA – The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has announced the latest employment conditions. BPS Chief Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti stated that the working population in February 2026 was recorded at 147.67 million people.

“The open unemployment rate (TPT) in February 2026 is 4.68%. Out of a total workforce of 154.91 million people, 7.24 million of them are still unemployed,” said Amalia during a press conference on economic growth at the BPS office in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (5/5/2026).

Amalia conveyed that the absolute number of unemployed people decreased by 0.035 million from February 2025 to February 2026. According to her, workforce absorption is still dominated by the agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, and industry sectors. “These three sectors absorbed 60.29% of the national workforce in February 2026,” she stated.

Amalia explained that the number of people working in both formal and informal activities increased from February 2025 to February 2026. She noted that formal workers rose from 59.19 million to 59.93 million people. Meanwhile, informal workers increased from 86.58 million to 87.74 million people.

Amalia mentioned that anyone working at least one hour in a week is classified as part of the working population, in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) standards. BPS, she continued, divides working people into three categories.

These include full-time workers (minimum 35 hours per week); part-time workers (less than 35 hours per week, but not seeking work and unwilling to accept other employment); and underemployed (working 1-34 hours per week, while still seeking work or willing to accept other employment).

“BPS recorded that in February 2026, the proportion of full-time workers was 66.77%, part-time workers 25.97%, and underemployed 7.27%. The proportion of full-time workers in February 2026 was higher than in February 2025, which was 66.19%,” said Amalia.