Minister Rini Widyantini Says 2026 Civil Servant Recruitment Still Under Discussion
As of late July 2026, there is no definite indicator regarding the opening of the selection process for Civil Servants (CPNS) or Government Employees with Work Agreements (PPPK). Certainty over the 2026 CPNS recruitment remains a major question mark.
Since the beginning of the year, the opening of CPNS has been widely rumoured. Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) Rini Widyantini previously mentioned that the number of vacancies would be around 160,000. Her statement was supported by the issuance of Ministerial Letter Number: B/1553/M.SM.01.00/2026 concerning the Needs of State Civil Apparatus (ASN) for the 2026 Fiscal Year. The letter requested agencies to immediately submit their staffing needs to be determined by the Ministry of PANRB. Several agencies have reportedly submitted their employee requirements to the ministry.
However, to date, no certainty regarding the opening of CPNS has been obtained. When confirmed again about whether CPNS would open this year, Minister Rini Widyantini stated the potential exists, but she could not yet provide assurance. “Hopefully there will be. We can’t spill it yet. The thing is, of course, we don’t know when, because it is still being discussed between ministries. As I have already said, we have asked all government agencies for the number of needs,” she explained at the Ministry of PANRB Office in South Jakarta on Friday (24/7/2026).
The government is still focusing on inter-ministerial coordination, especially with the Ministry of Finance, given that the ministry understands the state’s financing capacity. “This is still under calculation, and we are also discussing with the Ministry of Finance regarding the state’s financial capability. So, God willing, CPNS remains a programme we are preparing. But we cannot answer when, because we have to calculate the suitability of the competencies that are actually needed,” Rini added.
Regarding the number of CPNS vacancies for 2026, Rini stated that the government is still conducting discussions on both the required formations and the opening schedule. In addition to the competency needs of each agency, President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programmes also serve as a basis for consideration. “We are discussing it, because the first focus must be that we sent a letter at that time for mapping job competencies, what competencies are needed. Government agencies have submitted them, and of course, I also have to pay attention to the formation for the President’s priority programmes,” she said.
The Minister of PANRB stressed that the government does not want to rush the announcement of the formations. In addition to the needs of each agency needing to be calculated carefully, the types of competencies required must be appropriate to avoid mistakes. “The number of formations is not yet determined, it must be calculated first. Whether it will fill the entire number of retirees or how. We have also written to the Ministry of Finance regarding calculations, fiscal readiness, and so on,” she concluded. What is certain is that before registration opens, the government will announce the complete 2026 CPNS formations.
Separately, the Yogyakarta City Government has submitted a proposal for 36 CPNS vacancies for 2026. The Head of the Yogyakarta City BKPSDM, Sarwanto, stated that the prioritised formations are basic community needs, in accordance with central directives. The city proposed 24 educator positions and 12 health worker positions, with no technical staff openings. Sarwanto noted that the figure of 36 is still a proposal, and the number accepted by the Ministry of PANRB could be lower depending on the verification results.
As a rough guide, the estimated schedule for the 2026 CPNS is based on the 2024 timeline outlined in BKN Letter Number: 5419/B-KS.04.01/SD/K/2024. The projected timeline includes registration from 20 August to 6 September 2026, administrative selection until 13 September 2026, the Basic Competency Selection (SKD) from 16 October to 14 November 2026, and final result announcements from 5 to 12 January 2027.