With the number of unemployed locals showing a declining trend, Indonesia’s Manpower M Hanif Dhakiri targets the jobless rate to drop to 5 percent in 2018. He is optimistic that the goal will be achieved because the unemployment keeps going down.

“Current unemployment rate in Indonesia stays at 5.5 percent, the target is to make it into 5 percent this year,” said Mr Dhakiri during his visit to Pekanbaru, Riau on Tuesday (Feb 27).

He further explained that the unemployment rate in 2017 has indicated significant plunge compared to the previous years. The minister even claimed that the 5.5 percent unemployment rate was the lowest since the Reformation Era, Jawa Pos National Network reports.

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Additionally, Mr Dhakiri was more confident that the government under President Joko Widodo’s administration would be able to reduce unemployment through various strategies and work programs for jobseekers. Driven by rapid economic growth and increasing investment in the country, this will create more employment opportunities and boost employment, he added.

He also appreciated the active role taken by industry players, trade unions, as well as the public to push the unemployment rate in Indonesia. He wished that with more achievements in the people development and empowerment of workers, the unemployment rate can be more suppressed this year.

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