Poverty and Unemployment in West Java Decrease in 2025
The Provincial Government of West Java has recorded a decrease in the poverty and open unemployment rates throughout 2025. This achievement aligns with the high performance of regional development, rated at a score of 3.6672 based on a decision by the Minister of Home Affairs.
According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the percentage of poor people in West Java in 2025 was recorded at 6.78%, or around 3.55 million people. This figure is down from 7.08% in 2024.
West Java Deputy Governor Erwan Setiawan stated that the decline in poverty rates is the result of various programmes implemented by the regional government, ranging from reducing poverty pockets to increasing community incomes.
“In reducing poverty pockets, the West Java Provincial Government monitors locations vulnerable to food insecurity and prepares maps of vulnerability as well as food security,” said Erwan yesterday.
He explained that to reduce the burden of household expenditure, the West Java Provincial Government held the Affordable Food Movement (GPM) 1,874 times across 27 regencies/cities throughout 2025, as well as implementing the Subsidised Market Operation (OPB). “Through these activities, the community can obtain food commodities at affordable prices,” he said.
In addition, the regional government is also reducing expenditure for the poor through the health and energy sectors. One of them is by funding health insurance premiums for those who cannot afford it.
“The Provincial Government also funds health insurance premiums for poor communities to reduce their expenditure,” he said.
In the energy sector, the West Java Provincial Government is increasing electricity access for underprivileged communities. A total of 76,123 electricity connections have been identified for distribution in 1,367 villages/sub-districts.
Meanwhile, to increase incomes, the West Java Provincial Government provides training for Indonesian migrant workers and distributes business capital assistance to 57 Joint Business Groups (KUBE).
“We also distribute business capital assistance to joint business groups to increase the income of the poor,” said Erwan.
OPEN UNEMPLOYMENT
In addition to poverty, the open unemployment rate in West Java has also declined. In 2025, the unemployment rate was recorded at 6.66%, down from 6.75% in 2024. This achievement exceeds the target set at 6.99% based on the results of the National Labour Force Survey in November 2025.
The decline in unemployment is driven by increased labour absorption in several sectors, including agriculture, forestry, and fisheries by 0.10 million people, the education sector by 0.05 million people, and the accommodation and food and beverage sector by 0.04 million people.
“On the other hand, employment fields that experienced a decrease in labour absorption are the mining and quarrying sector by 0.04 million people,” said Erwan.
He added that the sectors absorbing the most labour in West Java include motor vehicle and motorcycle repair and maintenance at 22.44%, manufacturing industry at 18.61%, and the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector at 15.43%.