2022 Data: Unemployment in Kutai Barat Regency 4.62%

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) released data showing that the open unemployment rate (OUR) in West Kutai Regency reached 6.16% in 2023. This figure increased by 1.54% compared to December 2022, which was recorded at 4.62%. Compared to December 2021, the figure increased by 1.02%.

Since 2014, the open unemployment rate (OUR) in West Kutai Regency has shown a downward trend in terms of numbers. However, the four years following the Covid-19 pandemic, which began in March 2020, caused the open unemployment rate (OUR) to rise in West Kutai Regency.

Compared to other regencies/cities, the open unemployment rate (OUR) in this regency/city ranks 88th nationally. The national average open unemployment rate (OUR) in 2023 was 4.6%.

The increase in the open unemployment rate (OUR) is inseparable from the data on the number of workers in this region. The number of workers in West Kutai Regency has increased over the past three years. Historically, 82,895 workers were recorded in 2021, this decreased to 79,937 workers in 2022, and 96,080 workers were recorded in 2023.

As for the number of employed people, the number of workers in West Kutai Regency has shown an upward trend over the past 14 years and continued after Covid-19. In the last four years, the number of workers has also followed an upward trend. In 2021, there were 78,633 workers, and this number increased to 90,163 workers in 2023.

The increase in the open unemployment rate (OUR) in West Kutai Regency is not directly related to economic growth in the 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.

The following are the five regencies/cities with the highest open unemployment rates (OUR) in East Kalimantan province in 2023:

• Bontang City 7.74%


• West Kutai Regency 6.16%


• Balikpapan City 6.09%


• East Kutai Regency 5.93%


• Samarinda City 5.92%

The following are the five regencies/cities with the lowest open unemployment rates (OUR) in 2023:

• North Penajam Paser Regency 2.07%


• Mahakam Hulu Regency 2.09%


• Kutai Kartanegara Regency 4.05%


• Paser Regency 4.72%


• Berau Regency 4.95%