Indonesia: underemployment, why the street rumbles despite 5% growth
Since the protests of summer 2025, social anger in Indonesia has focused on the cost of living and the lack of stable jobs. Official unemployment is low and growth steady: the malaise shows elsewhere, in underemployment, informal work and the situation of young people.
Scope: Indonesia, population aged 15 and over, National Labour Force Survey (Sakernas, BPS) processed by the International Labour Organization, yearly data; quarterly GDP growth (OECD).
Key points
- Steady growth. Since Q1 2022 – Q3 2026, Indonesia’s GDP growth over a year has stayed between 4.7% and 6.4% depending on the quarter; it reaches 5.6% in quarter Q3 2026.
- Low unemployment, except among the young. The unemployment rate is 3.8% in 2024, but that of 15-24 year-olds reaches 15.2%, about 4 times higher.
- Underemployment swelled with the pandemic. The share of employed people working fewer hours than they want rose from 3.8% in 2016 to 9.2% in 2021, before falling back to 5.1% in 2023; it reaches 7.8% among the young.
- Informal work dominates. 81% of people in work have no contract or social protection in 2023, a share that has hardly moved.
- Few salaried jobs created. Over 2019 – 2024, employment rose by 11 million, of which only 4 million employees; the rest came from own-account and family workers.
How to read these figures
The figures come from the National Labour Force Survey (Sakernas) of Indonesia’s statistics office BPS, processed by the International Labour Organization under its international definitions. They may therefore differ from the rates published by BPS. Time-related underemployment counts employed people who work less than an hours threshold, want to work more and are available to do so.
The survey has breaks (2008, 2013 and 2021 according to the ILO). For underemployment and informal employment, Citoyen only draws 2016 to 2023: the 2015 and 2024 values move several points in one year with no published explanation, which signals a questionnaire change rather than a labour-market move. Informal employment is missing in 2020 and 2021.
1. Steady growth
Outside the pandemic, Indonesian growth is remarkably steady. On its own, it says nothing about the kind of jobs it creates.
GDP growth, compared with the same quarter of the previous year
OECD, from BPS national accounts. The 2020 trough is the pandemic.
Source:OECD
Show the chart data
| Period | GDP growth |
|---|---|
| Q1 2012 | 6.1% |
| Q2 2012 | 6.1% |
| Q3 2012 | 6.0% |
| Q4 2012 | 5.9% |
| Q1 2013 | 5.8% |
| Q2 2013 | 5.6% |
| Q3 2013 | 5.5% |
| Q4 2013 | 5.4% |
| Q1 2014 | 5.2% |
| Q2 2014 | 5.1% |
| Q3 2014 | 5.0% |
| Q4 2014 | 4.8% |
| Q1 2015 | 4.8% |
| Q2 2015 | 4.8% |
| Q3 2015 | 4.9% |
| Q4 2015 | 5.0% |
| Q1 2016 | 5.0% |
| Q2 2016 | 5.1% |
| Q3 2016 | 5.1% |
| Q4 2016 | 5.0% |
| Q1 2017 | 5.1% |
| Q2 2017 | 5.0% |
| Q3 2017 | 5.1% |
| Q4 2017 | 5.1% |
| Q1 2018 | 5.1% |
| Q2 2018 | 5.2% |
| Q3 2018 | 5.2% |
| Q4 2018 | 5.2% |
| Q1 2019 | 5.3% |
| Q2 2019 | 5.3% |
| Q3 2019 | 4.9% |
| Q4 2019 | 4.6% |
| Q1 2020 | 2.9% |
| Q2 2020 | −5.0% |
| Q3 2020 | −3.5% |
| Q4 2020 | −2.7% |
| Q1 2021 | −1.0% |
| Q2 2021 | 7.0% |
| Q3 2021 | 4.1% |
| Q4 2021 | 4.9% |
| Q1 2022 | 4.7% |
| Q2 2022 | 5.0% |
| Q3 2022 | 6.4% |
| Q4 2022 | 5.1% |
| Q1 2023 | 5.1% |
| Q2 2023 | 5.0% |
| Q3 2023 | 5.1% |
| Q4 2023 | 5.0% |
| Q1 2024 | 5.1% |
| Q2 2024 | 5.0% |
| Q3 2024 | 5.0% |
| Q4 2024 | 5.0% |
| Q1 2025 | 4.9% |
| Q2 2025 | 5.1% |
| Q3 2025 | 5.1% |
| Q4 2025 | 5.2% |
| Q1 2026 | 5.4% |
| Q2 2026 | 5.4% |
| Q3 2026 | 5.6% |
2. Unemployment and underemployment
Overall unemployment is low: in a country without general unemployment insurance, few people can afford not to work. The difficulty shows rather in underemployment and in youth unemployment, which reached 17.0% in 2015.
Unemployment rate: 15-24 and all aged 15 and over
ILO definition. Latest year: 2024.
- All
- 15-24 year-olds
Source:International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT)
Show the chart data
| Period | 15-24 year-olds | All |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19.9% | 6.1% |
| 2001 | 19.9% | 6.1% |
| 2002 | 22.4% | 6.6% |
| 2003 | 22.1% | 6.7% |
| 2004 | 24.4% | 7.3% |
| 2005 | 26.2% | 7.9% |
| 2006 | 24.5% | 7.6% |
| 2007 | 22.6% | 8.1% |
| 2008 | 19.5% | 7.2% |
| 2009 | 18.9% | 6.1% |
| 2010 | 17.6% | 5.6% |
| 2011 | 18.4% | 5.2% |
| 2012 | 15.5% | 4.5% |
| 2013 | 15.7% | 4.3% |
| 2014 | 15.7% | 4.0% |
| 2015 | 17.0% | 4.5% |
| 2016 | 15.8% | 4.3% |
| 2017 | 14.5% | 3.8% |
| 2018 | 16.3% | 4.4% |
| 2019 | 13.6% | 3.6% |
| 2020 | 14.8% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | 13.9% | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 14.1% | 3.5% |
| 2023 | 13.3% | 3.4% |
| 2024 | 15.2% | 3.8% |
Time-related underemployment
As a percentage of people in work, all and 15-24 year-olds, years 2016 to 2023.
- 15-24 year-olds
- All
Source:International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT)
Show the chart data
| Period | All | 15-24 year-olds |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3.8% | 5.1% |
| 2017 | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 4.1% | 5.3% |
| 2019 | 4.6% | 6.4% |
| 2020 | 7.4% | 10.0% |
| 2021 | 9.2% | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 6.2% | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 5.1% | 7.8% |
Young people aged 15 to 24 not in employment, education or training
As a percentage of the group’s population. Women in 2000: 38%.
- Men
- Women
Source:International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT)
Show the chart data
| Period | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 38.5% | 20.0% |
| 2001 | 39.5% | 19.7% |
| 2002 | 40.7% | 21.3% |
| 2003 | 41.2% | 21.5% |
| 2004 | 41.2% | 21.6% |
| 2005 | 40.6% | 23.0% |
| 2006 | 39.5% | 21.7% |
| 2007 | 39.4% | 21.1% |
| 2008 | 36.8% | 19.7% |
| 2009 | 35.9% | 19.6% |
| 2010 | 34.7% | 18.7% |
| 2011 | 33.7% | 18.2% |
| 2012 | 31.0% | 15.1% |
| 2013 | 30.4% | 15.6% |
| 2014 | 29.5% | 15.4% |
| 2015 | 29.4% | 16.6% |
| 2016 | 29.1% | 16.1% |
| 2017 | 28.0% | 15.3% |
| 2018 | 27.9% | 15.8% |
| 2019 | 26.1% | 15.1% |
| 2020 | 26.8% | 16.9% |
| 2021 | 26.1% | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 27.2% | 17.7% |
| 2023 | 26.3% | 16.7% |
3. Which jobs?
Indonesia had 143 million people in work in 2024. Employees account for only 47%; agriculture fell from 39% of employment in 2010 to 28% in 2024, to the benefit of services more than industry (14%).
Share of informal employment
As a percentage of total employment and of women’s employment, years 2016 to 2023 (no value in 2020 and 2021).
- Women
- All
Source:International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT)
Show the chart data
| Period | All | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 85.5% | 87.3% |
| 2017 | 84.0% | 85.3% |
| 2018 | 82.3% | 83.5% |
| 2019 | 80.3% | 81.7% |
| 2022 | 80.2% | 81.7% |
| 2023 | 80.9% | 82.5% |
People in work by status
In millions. Unpaid family workers in 2024: 20 million.
- Employers
- Family workers
- Own-account
- Employees
Source:International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT)
Show the chart data
| Period | Employees | Own-account | Family workers | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 43 million | 43 million | 19 million | 3 million |
| 2011 | 47 million | 41 million | 19 million | 4 million |
| 2012 | 51 million | 39 million | 19 million | 4 million |
| 2013 | 53 million | 39 million | 18 million | 4 million |
| 2014 | 54 million | 40 million | 18 million | 4 million |
| 2015 | 58 million | 39 million | 17 million | 4 million |
| 2016 | 58 million | 40 million | 16 million | 4 million |
| 2017 | 60 million | 42 million | 17 million | 4 million |
| 2018 | 61 million | 44 million | 17 million | 5 million |
| 2019 | 63 million | 47 million | 17 million | 5 million |
| 2020 | 62 million | 47 million | 18 million | 4 million |
| 2021 | 61 million | 47 million | 19 million | 4 million |
| 2022 | 63 million | 49 million | 19 million | 4 million |
| 2023 | 64 million | 51 million | 19 million | 5 million |
| 2024 | 67 million | 51 million | 20 million | 5 million |
People in work by sector
In millions. Market services: trade, transport, hospitality, finance; non-market services: administration, education, health.
- Non-market services
- Market services
- Mining, energy, water
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Agriculture
Source:International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT)
Show the chart data
| Period | Agriculture | Manufacturing | Construction | Mining, energy, water | Market services | Non-market services |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 42 million | 13 million | 5 million | 1 million | 30 million | 16 million |
| 2011 | 41 million | 14 million | 6 million | 2 million | 31 million | 16 million |
| 2012 | 41 million | 15 million | 7 million | 2 million | 33 million | 16 million |
| 2013 | 40 million | 15 million | 7 million | 2 million | 34 million | 16 million |
| 2014 | 40 million | 16 million | 7 million | 2 million | 35 million | 17 million |
| 2015 | 39 million | 16 million | 8 million | 2 million | 36 million | 17 million |
| 2016 | 38 million | 16 million | 8 million | 2 million | 38 million | 18 million |
| 2017 | 38 million | 17 million | 8 million | 2 million | 39 million | 19 million |
| 2018 | 38 million | 18 million | 8 million | 2 million | 41 million | 19 million |
| 2019 | 38 million | 19 million | 8 million | 2 million | 44 million | 20 million |
| 2020 | 39 million | 18 million | 8 million | 2 million | 44 million | 20 million |
| 2021 | 38 million | 18 million | 8 million | 2 million | 45 million | 19 million |
| 2022 | 40 million | 19 million | 8 million | 2 million | 46 million | 20 million |
| 2023 | 40 million | 19 million | 9 million | 3 million | 48 million | 20 million |
| 2024 | 41 million | 19 million | 9 million | 3 million | 50 million | 21 million |
What we know, what we don’t
What the figures establish
- GDP growth has stayed steady since the end of the pandemic.
- Youth unemployment is several times that of the whole labour force.
- Informal employment covers the large majority of workers, and most jobs created are not salaried.
What they don’t tell
- The income these jobs bring: these series count people, not wages or purchasing power.
- The link between these figures and the protests: these series do not measure the causes of the unrest.
- Underemployment and informality in 2024 and after, for lack of a comparable series.
Sources
Series downloaded from their producers on Nov 12, 2026, the snapshot date. Only published periods are used: no projection.
- International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT) National Labour Force Survey (Sakernas, BPS) micro data processed by the ILO: unemployment, underemployment, informality, NEET, participation, employment by status and sector
- OECD Key Economic Indicators: GDP growth, same quarter of the previous year (Indonesia: BPS national accounts)