TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As the world grapples with economic uncertainty, many nations feel the impact across multiple sectors, including employment. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 2025 data, the list of countries with the highest unemployment rate in Southeast Asia shows a continuing upward trend by 2030 projections.
Among ASEAN nations, Indonesia is projected to have the highest unemployment rate, at 5 percent by 2030, which is slightly higher than the projected rate of 4.9 percent in 2024. Though marginal, the rise adds to growing concerns about the country's labor market.
The figure reflects the national economy’s structural challenges in effectively absorbing labor, according to Syafruddin Karimi, the Economist and Lecturer at the Department of Economics at Andalas University, in a statement on May 22, 2025. Sectors such as textiles and footwear are particularly under significant pressure, driven by weak global demand, volatile raw material prices, and rising logistics costs.
According to Syafruddin Karimi, the solution lies in Indonesia initially reorganizing its industrialization policy to ensure that job creation aligns with the growth of productive sectors.
7 Countries with the Highest Unemployment Rate in Southeast Asia, According to IMF 2025 Data
These seven countries are predicted to have the highest unemployment rates in Southeast Asia. They are listed based on IMF data from 1980 to 2030.
- Indonesia - 5%
- Brunei - 4,9%
- Filipina - 4,5%
- Malaysia - 3,2%
- Vietnam - 1,9%
- Singapore - 1,9%
- Thailand - 1%
Editor's Choice: IMF Explains Why Indonesia Ranks Second in Unemployment Across Asia
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