The working population in Palu City is 186,220 and the unemployment rate is 5.65%.

The number of workers in Palu City has decreased over the past three years. Historically, in 2021, there were 185,780 workers; this number increased to 190,330 in 2022 and decreased to 186,220 in 2023.

This data on the working population is derived from the annual Sakernas survey conducted by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). The definition of a working person in the Sakernas survey methodology is as follows: A working person is defined as someone aged 15 years and older who performed work for at least one hour in the last week with the intention of earning or helping to earn income or profit. This one hour of work must be consecutive and uninterrupted.

Meanwhile, BPS released data showing that the open unemployment rate (TPT) in Palu City reached 5.65% in 2023. This figure is a decrease of 0.5% compared to December 2022 (6.15%) and a decrease of 1.96% compared to December 2021.

The reduction in the open unemployment rate (TPT) this year can be seen from the conditions of the labor force and the number of employed people. The labor force in Palu City has shown an upward trend over the past 15 years. In 2021, the labor force was 201,080 workers, decreasing to 197,370 workers in 2023.

Compared to other regencies/cities, the open unemployment rate (TPT) in Palu City ranks 132nd nationally. The national average open unemployment rate (TPT) in 2023 was 4.3%.

The decrease in the open unemployment rate (TPT) in Palu City is not directly related to the economic growth in the region, which also continued to increase in 2023. The economy in this region in 2023 recorded a growth of 4.96 percent, compared to 4.32 percent in 2022.

Palu City Population Data:

The population of Palu City was recorded at 389,960 in 2024, showing an increase. Over the past five years, the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of the population in this region decreased by 0.07%. This growth is lower than the growth in the previous five years, which was recorded at 1.26%.

In terms of nominal figures compared to other areas in Central Sulawesi Province, Palu City ranks second among the 13 other regencies/cities. When grouped by island, it ranks 13th.

According to BPS data from 2024, 259,490 people, or approximately 66.54% of the population of Palu City, are in the productive age group (15-59 years). 25.01% of the total population, or approximately 97,513, are children (aged 0-14 years), and 8.45% are aged over 60 years.

The following is the population by age group in Palu City as of June 2024, sourced from BPS publications:

* Age 0-4 years: 28,060 (7.2%)
* Age 5-9 years: 35,570 (9.12%)
* Age 10-14 years: 33,880 (8.69%)
* Age 15-19 years: 28,010 (7.18%)
* Age 20-24 years: 35,110 (9%)
* Age 25-29 years: 34,980 (8.97%)
* Age 30-34 years: 33,290 (8.54%)
* Age 35-39 years: 30,680 (7.87%)
* Age 40-44 years: 29,540 (7.58%)
* Age 45-49 years: 26,150 (6.71%)
* Age 50-54 years: 22,660 (5.81%)
* Age 55-59 years: 19,060 (4.89%)
* Age 60-64 years: 13,310 (3.41%)
* Age 65-69 years: 9,140 (2.34%)
* Age 70-74 years: 5,350 (1.37%)
* Age 75 years and over: 5,150 (1.32%)