According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the open unemployment rate (OUR) in Agam Regency in December 2023 increased by 0.03% to 4.96% compared to December 2022. Over the past six years, the open unemployment rate (OUR) has steadily risen at a faster rate than in previous years.
Over the past five years, the open unemployment rate (OUR) has shown an upward trend. The COVID-19 pandemic, starting in 2020, further contributed to the rise in the open unemployment rate (OUR) in Agam Regency.
Compared to other regencies/cities, the open unemployment rate (OUR) in this regency/city ranks 177th nationally. The national average open unemployment rate (OUR) in 2023 was 4.3%.
The increase in the open unemployment rate (OUR) is related to the number of the workforce in this region. The number of the workforce in Agam Regency has shown an upward trend over the past 16 years, continuing after the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past four years, the number of the workforce has also shown an upward trend. In 2021, the workforce was recorded at 242,930 workers, increasing to 295,550 workers in 2023.
Regarding the number of employed residents, the number of workers in Agam Regency has shown an upward trend over the past 14 years. In 2021, the number of workers was 230,640, increasing by 24,395 workers from the previous year to 280,900 workers in 2023.
The increase in the open unemployment rate (OUR) in Agam Regency is not directly related to the region's economic growth, which also continued to increase in 2023. The economy in this region in 2023 was recorded at 4.52 percent. Previously, in 2022, economic growth in this regency/city was recorded at 4.21 percent.
The following are the ten regencies/cities with the highest open unemployment rates (OUR) in West Sumatra Province in 2023:
- Padang City: 10.86%
- Padang Pariaman Regency: 6.69%
- Dharmasraya Regency: 6.22%
- West Pasaman Regency: 6.01%
- Pariaman City: 5.68%
- Padang Panjang City: 5.49%
- Tanah Datar Regency: 5.35%
- Pasaman Regency: 5.09%
- Solok Regency: 4.99%
- Bukit Tinggi City: 4.99%
The following are the ten regencies/cities with the lowest open unemployment rates (OUR) in 2023:
- Mentawai Islands Regency: 1.33%
- South Solok Regency: 2.57%
- Solok City: 3.72%
- Fifty Regencies City: 3.95%
- Sawahlunto/Sijunjung Regency: 4.71%
- South Pesisir Regency: 4.75%
- Payakumbuh City: 4.84%
- Agam Regency: 4.96%
- Sawahlunto City: 4.98%
- Bukit Tinggi City: 4.99%