Business · Economy · 3 hrs ago
Indonesia's Unemployment Rate Fell to 4.75% in August 2026
Indonesia's unemployment rate was 4.75% in August 2026, down from 4.85% a year earlier, according to the country's statistics agency, BPS.
The labour force numbered 155.37 million, including 7.38 million people classified as unemployed.
Informal workers made up 57.93% of workers, up from 57.80% a year earlier, while the formal share slipped to 42.07%.
BPS official Edy Mahmud said job losses have pushed some people from formal jobs into informal work, but that does not necessarily make them unemployed.
People who work at least one hour a week count as employed under the international standard cited by BPS, even if they work fewer hours or in informal jobs.
BPS says more formal jobs are needed to improve workers' welfare more evenly.
Indonesia’s open unemployment rate was 4.75% in August 2026, down from 4.85% a year earlier.
The country had 7.38 million unemployed people and a labour force of 155.37 million, according to Statistics Indonesia.
The agency said 147.99 million people were employed.
Informal workers made up 57.93% of workers, up from 57.80% a year earlier, while the formal share fell to 42.07%.
Statistics Indonesia said people who work at least one hour in a week count as employed, including some who lost formal jobs and moved into informal work.
- Who
- Statistics Indonesia reported the figures. Deputy Edy Mahmud presented them.
- What
- The open unemployment rate was 4.75%, with 7.38 million people unemployed.
- When
- August 2026. The figures were presented on November 5, 2026.
- Where
- Indonesia. Edy presented the figures at Statistics Indonesia’s headquarters in Central Jakarta.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The open unemployment rate was 4.85%, and informal workers made up 57.80% of workers.
The open unemployment rate was 4.75%, with 7.38 million people unemployed.
Statistics Indonesia presented the August 2026 labour figures in Jakarta.
- Unemployment rate
- 4.75% in August 2026
- Year-on-year change
- Down 0.10 percentage points from 4.85%
- Labour force
- 155.37 million people
- Employed
- 147.99 million people
- Unemployed
- 7.38 million people
- Informal worker share
- 57.93% in August 2026, up from 57.80% a year earlier
What people are saying
A person who works to earn or help earn income for at least one hour in a week is classified as employed.
This is a signal that formal-sector employment absorption still needs to increase.