Business · Economy · 17 hrs ago
Indonesia Counts Anyone Working at Least One Hour a Week as Employed
Indonesia’s statistics agency, BPS, counts people as employed if they do at least one hour of paid work a week.
The rule applies even to people who have lost company jobs and moved into informal work or now work fewer hours.
BPS says the threshold follows an International Labour Organization standard used to make employment data comparable across countries.
In August 2026, people working just one hour a week accounted for 0.2% of employed people in Indonesia.
BPS classifies workers with fewer than 35 hours a week as part-time or underemployed, depending on whether they want or are available for more work.
Those who want or are available for extra work are counted as underemployed.
BPS reported that underemployment accounted for 8.68% of workers, while full-time workers made up 67.47% and part-time workers 23.85%.
Indonesia’s statistics agency counts people as employed if they work at least one hour in a week to earn income.
The agency says the threshold follows an International Labour Organization standard and is not a new rule.
People working under 35 hours a week may be classified as part-time workers or underemployed, depending on whether they seek or are willing to take additional work.
In August 2026, people who worked only one hour a week made up 0.2% of employed people, according to the agency.
- Who
- Indonesia’s Statistics Agency (BPS) and people doing paid work.
- What
- BPS counts someone as employed if they work at least one hour in a week to earn income.
- When
- BPS data cited in the report are from August 2026; the agency explained the rule at a news conference reported on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Indonesia.
- Why
- BPS says the threshold follows an International Labour Organization standard and allows data to be compared internationally.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
BPS’s National Labour Force Survey recorded people working only one hour a week as 0.2% of employed people.
BPS deputy Moh Edy Mahmud explained the one-hour threshold at a news conference.
- Minimum work threshold
- At least 1 hour in a week
- One-hour workers’ share
- 0.2% of employed people in August 2026
- Full-time threshold
- 35 hours or more a week
- Full-time workers’ share
- 67.47% in August 2026
- Part-time workers’ share
- 23.85% in August 2026
- Underemployed workers’ share
- 8.68% in August 2026
What people are saying
As long as they meet the minimum threshold of working 1 hour in a week, they are still recorded as employed.
This concept applies internationally, from the ILO: 1 hour of work a week puts someone in the category of employed.