By: Fransiska Alda Setyani Beru Sembiring, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) of East Nusa Tenggara Province
This article was published on Pos-Kupang.com with the title "Opinion: Millions of Informal Workers Drive NTT's Economy," https://kupang.tribunnews.com/editorial/964261/opini-jutaan-pekerja-informal-menggerakkan-ekonomi-ntt.
The economy in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province is inseparable from the active role of its people working and carrying out various economic activities.
The workforce is the main driver of the economy, both through the formal and informal sectors.
Therefore, the presence of the workforce plays a crucial role in driving regional economic growth.
According to data from the National Labor Force Survey (SAKERNAS) by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the Labor Force Participation Rate (TPAK) in NTT in February 2026 was 76.94 percent.
This figure represents an increase of 1.13 percentage points compared to 75.81 percent in February 2025.
A total of 100,000 working-age residents in NTT joined the labor force in February 2026.
The TPAK (Employment Participation) is an indicator that describes the proportion of the economically active working-age population in a region.
Based on employment status, the population's work activities can be categorized as formal and informal.
The majority of workers in NTT remain in the informal sector. Based on the February 2026 National Labor Force Survey (Sakernas) data released by the Statistics Indonesia (BPS), 2.32 million people, or 75.28 percent, worked in the informal sector in NTT.
This trend of informal workers in NTT increased from February 2024 to February 2026.
In February 2024, 2.20 million informal workers were recorded in NTT, or 74.17 percent, and in February 2025, 2.22 million people, or 74.42 percent.
The employment structure in NTT is still dominated by informal employment, such as self-employment, businesses assisted by casual laborers/unpaid family workers, casual workers in the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, and unpaid family workers.
The increasing proportion of informal workers from year to year also indicates that formal job creation has not been able to keep up with the needs of the existing workforce in NTT.
The informal sector is like an oasis in the desert. Its relatively easy entry points for the public, resulting in significant employment absorption in this sector.
However, despite this ease of access, informal sector workers generally still face many challenges, such as limited social protection, lack of job security, and income uncertainty.
As an approach to calculating the net income of workers in the informal sector, BPS uses income data for non-labor workers, consisting of self-employed workers, casual workers in agriculture, and casual workers in non-agriculture.
In 2025, the average monthly net income of informal workers will be 1.32 million rupiah.
When viewed by district/city, Belu Regency has the highest average monthly net income for informal sector workers, at 2.24 million rupiah, and Alor Regency has the lowest average monthly net income for informal sector workers, at 0.94 million rupiah.
This indicates that there is still a gap between districts/cities in NTT in terms of average monthly net income for informal workers.
Behind the NTT economy are millions of informal workers who keep the economy turning every day.
From small traders and drivers to farmers and fishermen to home-based business owners, they support the livelihoods of many families.
However, despite their significant role, informal workers still face various challenges, ranging from uncertain incomes, minimal social protection, and job insecurity.
Therefore, the government's role as a policymaker is crucial.
Informal workers also deserve equal attention and support as workers in the formal sector.
In fact, the majority of workers in NTT depend on the informal sector for their livelihood.
This situation serves as a reminder that informal workers are no longer merely an economic complement, but a key component of the NTT economy.
It is time for informal sector workers to receive more equal opportunities, protection, and access to develop and live more prosperous lives.
As the government strives to design targeted policies, accurate and comprehensive data on the conditions of business actors, including those operating in the informal sector, is needed.
This data provides a crucial foundation for developing more effective and sustainable development programs.
Law Number 16 of 1997 concerning Statistics stipulates that the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) is the state institution responsible for administering basic statistics.
One major activity that is already underway is the Economic Census. The Economic Census is a comprehensive data collection activity on all business units/companies in Indonesia, conducted every ten years in years ending with the number 6.
The 2026 Economic Census plays a highly strategic role in providing a comprehensive overview of businesses, one of which is the informal sector.
Furthermore, the resulting data will support strategic planning and decisions, capture current economic trends, and help businesses identify business opportunities and challenges.
From May 1 to July 31, 2026, large and medium-sized businesses/companies will receive a WhatsApp (WA) or email to complete the questionnaire independently (online).
From June 15 to August 31, 2026, for all businesses/companies that have not yet received WhatsApp (WA) or email for self-filling, data collection will be conducted directly by SE2026 officers.
Let's make the 2026 Economic Census a success by preparing basic information about your business/company and welcoming the census officers. Provide answers to the officers or complete the online questionnaire yourself.
