East Java Unemployment Remains High Despite Slight Decline; Vocational, Graduate Job Seekers Hit Hardest

Malang, East Java – The number of unemployed in East Java remains alarmingly high, with 894,500 people jobless as of February 2025, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of East Java. While this marks a decrease of 7,850 compared to February 2024, the figure underscores persistent challenges in labor absorption for Indonesia’s second-most populous province.  

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"The open unemployment rate (TPT) in East Java fell slightly to 3.61%, down 0.13 percentage points from last year. However, with the labor force growing to 24.76 million—an increase of 620,770—job creation still lags behind demand," said Zulkipli, Head of BPS East Java, on Thursday (22/5/2025).  

Vocational (SMK) and university graduates account for the largest share of joblessness, with TPT rates of 5.87% and 5.60%, respectively. In contrast, those with only elementary education or lower recorded a TPT of just 1.98%, highlighting a persistent *skill mismatch* between formal education and labor market needs.  

A staggering 63.91% of East Java’s workforce remains in the informal sector, lacking income security and social protections. "Informal workers face greater vulnerability, compounding the challenges beyond open unemployment," Zulkipli noted.  

The transportation and warehousing sector added 105,800 jobs, followed by accommodation/food services (+96,870) and health/social work (+78,450). However, other services saw a sharp decline, losing 108,750 workers.  

Agriculture (30.95%), wholesale/retail trade (19.65%), and manufacturing (14.09%) remain the largest employers.  

Female labor force participation rose significantly to 62.81% (+2.28 points), narrowing the gender gap, while male participation edged up to 85.91% (+0.18 points).  

East Java’s improving figures contrast with national data, where unemployment rose to 7.28 million (+83,000) despite a slight TPT dip to 4.76%. "East Java’s labor market is relatively stronger," Zulkipli emphasized.  

While the decline in unemployment is positive, nearly 900,000 jobless individuals—particularly young professionals and graduates—signal unresolved structural challenges.  

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