Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.68 Percent, BPS Records 7.24 Million People Still Unemployed

JAKARTA - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reports that the open unemployment rate (TPT) in February 2026 stands at 4.68 percent.

BPS Chief Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti stated that this figure represents a decline compared to February 2025.

The labour force in February 2026 totals 154.91 million people, of which 147.67 million are employed.

“The open unemployment rate (TPT) in February 2026 is 4.68 percent. From a total labour force of 154.91 million people, 7.24 million are still unemployed,” she said in a BPS release in Jakarta on Tuesday (5/5/2026).

Labour absorption remains supported by three main sectors: agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, and industry.

“These three sectors absorb 60.29 percent of the national workforce in February 2026,” she added.

The number of workers continues to rise in both formal and informal sectors. Formal workers increased from 59.19 million to 59.93 million people.

Informal workers also rose from 86.58 million to 87.74 million people.

BPS explains that a person is categorised as employed if they have worked for at least one hour in a week. This standard refers to the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Full-time workers have a minimum of 35 hours per week. Part-time workers have fewer than 35 hours per week and are not seeking other employment.

The underemployed group works between 1 and 34 hours per week and is still seeking work or willing to accept other employment.

BPS records that the proportion of full-time workers in February 2026 reaches 66.77 percent. This is higher than February 2025’s 66.19 percent.

Meanwhile, part-time workers account for 25.97 percent, and the underemployed for 7.27 percent.