COVID-19 Impacts Growing Number of Working-Age Population, Unemployment in North Sumatra Rises

The number of working-age people affected by COVID-19 in North Sumatra (Sumut) has increased, leading to a rise in the unemployment rate. The pandemic caused a greater increase in unemployment than the growth in the number of employed people or the labor force.

According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Sumut's open unemployment rate (TPT) increased by 0.32 percentage points to 6.32% in August 2021 compared to February 2021. However, compared to August 2020, the TPT in the province decreased by 0.59 percentage points.

The number of unemployed people increased by 26,000 (5.79%) to 475,000 in August 2021 from February 2021. Meanwhile, the number of employed people only increased by 6,000 (0.09%).

The labor force increased by 32,000 (0.43%) to 7.51 million during the same period. This condition led to the increase in unemployment in Sumut in August 2021.

In August 2021, the number of working-age people affected by COVID-19 was 814,000, or 7.49% of the total working-age population. This figure is higher than the 694,000 (6.44%) in February 2021.

Meanwhile, 84,000 people in Sumut were unemployed due to the impact of COVID-19 in August 2021. Another 28,000 were not part of the labor force due to COVID-19. Additionally, 59,000 were temporarily unemployed, and 643,000 experienced reduced working hours due to COVID-19.