The number of employed people in West Kutai Regency is 90,163, and the unemployment rate is 6.16%.

The number of workers in Kutai Barat Regency has shown an upward trend over the last 14 years. Following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of workers has continued to rise for the past four years. In 2021, the number of workers was recorded at 78,633, increasing to 90,163 in 2023.

This data on the working population is derived from the annual Sakernas survey conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics (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 has worked 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, according to BPS records, the open unemployment rate (TPT) in Kutai Barat Regency in December 2023 increased by 1.54% to 6.16% compared to December 2022. Compared to December 2021, the open unemployment rate (TPT) also increased from 5.14%.

The increase in the open unemployment rate (TPT) is related to the data on the number of the workforce in this region. The number of the workforce in Kutai Barat Regency has shown a downward trend over the last 15 years. In 2021, the number of the workforce was recorded at 82,895, increasing by 16,143 from the previous year to 96,080 in 2023.

Compared to other regencies/cities, the open unemployment rate (TPT) in this regency/city ranks 96th nationally. The national average open unemployment rate (TPT) in 2023 was 4.3%.

The increase in the open unemployment rate (TPT) in Kutai Barat Regency is not directly related to the economic growth in this region, which also continued to increase in 2023. The economy in this region in 2023 was recorded at 5.82 percent. Previously, in 2022, economic growth in this regency/city was recorded at 4.77 percent.

Population Data in Kutai Barat Regency:

The population of Kutai Barat Regency was recorded at 182,540 as of 2024. This figure has increased consecutively for 12 years. Compared to the previous five years, the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of this region is recorded as higher. The growth over the last five years was recorded at 4.28%.

Compared to other regencies/cities in East Kalimantan Province, the population of Kutai Barat Regency ranks ninth, while nationally, this regency/city ranks 40th.

The majority of the population in this region, or about 67.21%, are of working age (15-59 years), totaling 122,680. According to a 2024 BPS publication, this number reached 122,680. The remaining population consists of children aged 0-14 years (approximately 24.37%) and the elderly aged over 60 years (8.42%).

The following is the population by age group in Kutai Barat Regency in June 2024, sourced from a BPS publication:

* Age 0-4 years: 10,730 (5.88%)
* Age 5-9 years: 16,050 (8.79%)
* Age 10-14 years: 17,710 (9.7%)
* Age 15-19 years: 14,680 (8.04%)
* Age 20-24 years: 16,750 (9.18%)
* Age 25-29 years: 15,350 (8.41%)
* Age 30-34 years: 13,940 (7.64%)
* Age 35-39 years: 13,670 (7.49%)
* Age 40-44 years: 15,180 (8.31%)
* Age 45-49 years: 13,690 (7.5%)
* Age 50-54 years: 10,990 (6.02%)
* Age 55-59 years: 8,430 (4.62%)
* Age 60-64 years: 6,040 (3.31%)
* Age 65-69 years: 4,150 (2.27%)
* Age 70-74 years: 2,520 (1.38%)
* Age 75 years and older: 2,660 (1.46%)