The number of employed residents in South Manokwari Regency is 22,875, and the unemployment rate is 1.56%.

The number of workers in South Manokwari Regency has shown an upward trend over the past eight years. Following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of workers has also been on an upward trend for the past five years. In 2022, the number of workers was recorded at 14,720, increasing to 22,875 in 2024.

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 above 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, BPS released data showing that the open unemployment rate (OUR) in South Manokwari Regency reached 1.56% in 2023. This figure increased by 0.5% compared to December 2022, which recorded 1.06%. However, compared to December 2021, it decreased by 1.34%.

The increase in the open unemployment rate (OUR) is related to the data on the number of the workforce in this region. The number of the workforce in South Manokwari Regency has shown an upward trend over the past eight years. Conversely, in the four years following the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of the workforce has been on an upward trend. In 2021, the number of the workforce was recorded at 15,597, increasing to 22,906 in 2023.

Compared to other regencies/cities, the open unemployment rate in this regency/city ranks 484th nationally. The national average open unemployment rate in 2023 was 4.3%.

The increase in the open unemployment rate (OUR) in South Manokwari 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 recorded a growth of 2.1 percent. Previously, in 2022, economic growth in this regency/city was recorded at 1.98 percent.

**Population Data in South Manokwari Regency:**

The population of South Manokwari Regency was recorded at 38,305 in 2024. This figure has shown a consecutive increase 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 9.6%.

In terms of nominal value compared to other regions in West Papua Province, this regency/city ranks seventh. When grouped by island, this regency/city ranks 39th.

The majority of the population in this region, or about 70.06%, are of working age (15-59 years), totaling 26,835. According to a 2024 BPS publication, the number reached 26,835. The remaining population consists of children aged 0-14 years (approximately 25.07%) and the elderly aged over 60 years (approximately 4.87%).

The following is the population by age group in South Manokwari Regency as of June 2024, sourced from a BPS publication:

* Age 0-4 years: 2.14 thousand (5.58%)
* Age 5-9 years: 3.74 thousand (9.75%)
* Age 10-14 years: 3.73 thousand (9.74%)
* Age 15-19 years: 3.56 thousand (9.29%)
* Age 20-24 years: 4.18 thousand (10.92%)
* Age 25-29 years: 4.22 thousand (11.03%)
* Age 30-34 years: 3.62 thousand (9.46%)
* Age 35-39 years: 2.84 thousand (7.4%)
* Age 40-44 years: 2.5 thousand (6.53%)
* Age 45-49 years: 2.46 thousand (6.41%)
* Age 50-54 years: 1.84 thousand (4.8%)
* Age 55-59 years: 1.61 thousand (4.21%)
* Age 60-64 years: 0.98 thousand (2.55%)
* Age 65-69 years: 0.43 thousand (1.13%)
* Age 70-74 years: 0.24 thousand (0.63%)
* Age 75 years and over: 0.22 thousand (0.56%)