Indonesia's Unemployment Rate Drops in August on Improving Economy

Jakarta, 08 Safar 1438/08 November 2016 (MINA) – Indonesia’s unemployment rate was lower in August compared with the same month a year ago thanks to the country’s improving economy, according to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) on Monday.

The data showed that 7.03 million people in Indonesia were jobless among the country’s total workforce of 125.44 million in August, representing a 0.57 percent drop to 5.61 percent from the same month last year.

In addition, the number of working people increased by 3.59 million people from 114.84 million people.

BPS Chief Suhariyanto was quoted by Xinhua as saying Indonesia’s improving economic growth had helped increase the number of working people in the country, and simultaneously slashed unemployment rate.

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The Southeast Asia’s largest economy grew 5.02 percent in July-September from the same period last year, slower than the 5.19 percent year-on-year growth in the second quarter, according to BPS on Monday.

President Joko Widodo has said Indonesia expected faster growth by yearend on the back of bigger government spending. The nation targets to achieve 5.2 percent growth for full year of 2016. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)