Unemployment in Jakarta on the decline: BPS

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that unemployment in Jakarta is declining. As of February, the unemployment rate in Jakarta had fallen to 10.83 percent, Jakarta BPS chief Agus Suherman said Monday.

He added that in August 2007 the unemployment rate in Jakarta had reached at 12.57 percent, which fell to 12.16 percent in 2008. In 2009, the rate was only slightly lower, at 12.15 percent, and by August 2010, it was down to 11.05 percent.

"The figures show a 1.1 percent decrease compared to August 2009 when [the unemployment rate] was 12.16 percent. By February 2011, open unemployment in Jakarta had declined by 0.49 percent to 10.83 percent, compared to February 2011 when stood at 11.32 percent," Agus said Monday as reported by tribunnews.com.

The lower unemployment rates is partly a result of the Village Community Economic Empowerment (PEMK) funds disbursed by the administration, he said.

"People could create jobs with the PEMK, so the unemployment trend has continued to fall over the past three years," he said.