Economic growth contributes positively to the decline in the open unemployment rateJakarta (ANTARA) - The open unemployment rate in Indonesia was recorded at 5.45 percent in February 2023, a decline by 0.38 percent as compared to 5.83 percent during the same period in 2022, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) stated.
"Economic growth contributes positively to the decline in the open unemployment rate," the Deputy for Statistical Analysis at BPS, Edy Mahmud, stated here on Friday.
In February 2023, some 7.99 million people fell into the open unemployment category, a decline by 0.41 million as compared to 8.4 million unemployed people recorded during the corresponding period in the previous year, he remarked.
He also pointed to a decline in the unemployment rates of both men and women.
He noted that in February 2022, the male unemployment rate was recorded at 6.31 percent, while in February 2023, it dropped to 5.83 percent. He also highlighted that in February 2022, the female unemployment rate was recorded at 5.09 percent, though in February 2023, the figure declined to 4.86 percent.
Mahmud also drew attention to an improvement in the state of unemployment at the village level, as compared to the time prior to the pandemic.
Data in February 2023 showed that the unemployment rate in villages was recorded at 3.42 percent, whereas data in February 2020 showed that it was at 3.49 percent, he elaborated.
However, the unemployment rate in urban areas increased as compared to the figure recorded before the pandemic, he said. In February 2023, the figure was recorded at 7.11 percent, whereas in February 2020, it was 6.12 percent.
Nonetheless, the state of unemployment in urban areas in February 2023 was much better than the unemployment rate of 7.61 percent recorded in February 2022, he pointed out.
Moreover, 3.02 million people got employed during the period from February 2022 to February 2023, thereby bringing the total of working people up to 138.63 million, Mahmud stated.
The figure comprised 92.16 million people working full time, 36.88 million part-timers, and 9.59 million underemployed people, he noted.
Statistics Indonesia stated that the workforce participation rate aligns with the economic growth, capped at 5.03 year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023.
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Translator: Imamatul Silfia, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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