SUARA NEGERI | JAKARTA — Throughout 2025, Indonesia's economic engine has proven to grow not only numerically but also to have a real impact on society.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, revealed that this positive trend has opened the door to approximately 1.3 million new jobs in the country.
"This growth has created approximately 1.3 million jobs, so there are more people working," Airlangga said at his office in Jakarta, as quoted on Friday, February 6, 2026.
This leap is not without reason. The economy surged 5.39 percent in the fourth quarter, bringing the annual growth to 5.11 percent.
Airlangga stated that this performance is the highest in the last four quarters, placing Indonesia in a relatively more stable position compared to many other countries.
The key to this resilience lies in strategic sectors. The manufacturing industry, for example, expanded by 5.4 percent and became a major driving force. Not to be missed, the agricultural sector also showed a significant revival.
The combination of industry, trade, and agriculture now supports more than 40 percent of Indonesia's GDP.
Airlangga believes that this success in absorbing millions of workers is also the result of various stimulus packages offered by the government.
From the VAT DTP incentive to the government-funded income tax (PPh) policy for workers with salaries below IDR 10 million, all are designed to maintain purchasing power while encouraging business expansion.
However, despite this positive report, the government remains vigilant. Airlangga acknowledges the significant challenges in increasing the state revenue ratio. His office is currently coordinating intensively with the Minister of Finance to optimize the coretax system so that tax revenues do not stagnate.
Concluding his statement, Airlangga expressed optimism that by maintaining the pace of expansion in key sectors and continuing targeted stimulus, this momentum in job creation will continue into the future. (Jeane Patikawa)
