Economy, jobs and prices in West Papua, Indonesia: official figures
The open unemployment rate in West Papua was 4.55% in August 2025, joint 15th highest of 38 provinces; the national rate was 4.85%.
Is unemployment rising in West Papua?
In West Papua, unemployment rose by 0.42 percentage points between August 2024 (4.13%) and August 2025 (4.55%); nationally it fell from 4.91% to 4.85%.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyWhat was the unemployment rate in West Papua in February 2025?
The February 2025 unemployment rate in West Papua was 4.21%, compared with 4.31% in February 2024 (down 0.10 percentage points); the national figures were 4.76% and 4.82%.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyWhat is the minimum wage in West Papua in 2026?
The 2026 provincial minimum wage in West Papua is Rp 3,841,000 a month, 12th highest of 38 provinces; the average of the 38 provincial minimums is Rp 3,508,714.
Source: Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker), Satudata Kemnaker · saved copyHow much did the minimum wage in West Papua go up in 2026?
The minimum wage in West Papua rose 6.3% in 2026, from Rp 3,615,000 in 2025 to Rp 3,841,000 a month (17th largest of 38 provincial increases).
Source: Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker), Satudata Kemnaker · saved copyWhat is the productivity of workers in West Papua?
Each worker in West Papua produced about Rp 170.6 million of regional output (GDP per worker, at constant 2010 prices) in 2024, 6th highest of 38 provinces; the national figure was Rp 89.3 million. This is a preliminary figure. Output per worker was Rp 142.1 million in 2019, up 20.0% over five years.
Source: Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker), Satudata Kemnaker · saved copyHow many young people in West Papua are not in work or education?
In February 2026, 23.8% of 15 to 24 year-olds in West Papua (24,641 young people) were not in school, work or training, 6th highest of 38 provinces; nationally the rate was 18.3%.
Source: Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker), Satudata Kemnaker · saved copyAre young women or men more likely to be out of work and school in West Papua?
In West Papua the share of young people not in school, work or training in February 2026 was 27.2% for young women and 20.7% for young men.
Source: Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker), Satudata Kemnaker · saved copyHow West Papua compares with other special autonomy provinces
Open unemployment rate (August 2025)
West Papua ranks 16 of 38, highest first. Share of the labour force without work and looking for it (Sakernas)
| Rank | Region | Open unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | West Kalimantan | 4.82% |
| 14 | Central Java | 4.66% |
| 15 | North Maluku | 4.55% |
| 16 | West Papua | 4.55% |
| 17 | Bangka Belitung Islands | 4.45% |
| 18 | Jambi | 4.26% |
| 19 | Lampung | 4.21% |
Provincial minimum wage per month (2026)
West Papua ranks 12 of 38, highest first. Rupiah per month
| Rank | Region | Provincial minimum wage per month |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Aceh | Rp 3,932,552 |
| 10 | South Sulawesi | Rp 3,921,088 |
| 11 | Riau Islands | Rp 3,879,520 |
| 12 | West Papua | Rp 3,841,000 |
| 13 | Riau | Rp 3,780,495 |
| 14 | North Kalimantan | Rp 3,775,243 |
| 15 | Southwest Papua | Rp 3,766,000 |
Regional output per worker (preliminary) (2024)
West Papua ranks 6 of 38, highest first. Regional GDP at constant 2010 prices divided by the number of people in work
| Rank | Region | Regional output per worker (preliminary) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Riau Islands | Rp 200.1 million |
| 4 | North Kalimantan | Rp 193.3 million |
| 5 | Riau | Rp 180.8 million |
| 6 | West Papua | Rp 170.6 million |
| 7 | Central Papua | Rp 135.5 million |
| 8 | Central Sulawesi | Rp 132.8 million |
| 9 | Papua | Rp 112.4 million |
More on West Papua: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Indonesia
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker), Satudata Kemnaker: Not in Employment, Education and Training (NEET), Februari 2026: NEET by province and sex (Sakernas February 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 df089218f4bc…)
- Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker), Satudata Kemnaker: Tingkat Produktivitas Tenaga Kerja Berdasarkan Provinsi Tahun 2016-2025 (regional GDP per worker at constant 2010 prices, from BPS regional GDP of 10 February 2026 and Sakernas), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1afeb96d222f…)
- Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General: Profil Kesehatan Indonesia 2025, Lampiran 1.10 and Table 1.2: open unemployment rate by province, February and August 2023-2025 (Sakernas, Statistics Indonesia), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d90b802535dc…)
- Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker), Satudata Kemnaker: Upah Minimum Provinsi (UMP) di Indonesia Tahun 2026 (provincial minimum wages, set under Government Regulation 49 of 2025), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 75af2078cb8d…)
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