During Governor Ahok's tenure, Jakarta's unemployment rate reached its lowest level.

The number of unemployed in Jakarta's Provincial Government reached its lowest level during the leadership of Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat. Data from the Central Statistics Agency shows that the open unemployment rate (OUR) in Jakarta in February 2017 was 5.36 percent. This figure is lower than in February 2016 and August 2016. This achievement is also the lowest since 2005, when the unemployment rate was still in the double digits.

The number of people in the workforce in February 2017 was 5.46 million, while only 5.17 million were employed, resulting in 292,700 unemployed people aged 15 and over. This number decreased by 7.67 percent from August 2016 and is also 4.42 percent lower than in February 2016.

Ahok, along with Joko Widodo, was inaugurated as Governor and Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta on October 15, 2012. Then, on November 19, 2014, Basuki Tjahaja officially took office as Governor of DKI Jakarta, replacing Jokowi. However, at the blasphemy trial on Wednesday (May 9), Basuki was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison. He was immediately taken to Cipinang Detention Center by the Prosecutor's Office and later transferred to the detention facility at the Kelapa Dua Brimob Corps Headquarters.