However, he admitted that this data indicates that the government has to work harder to improve the supporting condition in order to encourage job creation, for instance with the provision of affordable and accessible financing. “Regional administration should also pay more attention in facilitating licensing. If the people are not allowed to sell on the street, then they should be provided with a space,” he asserted.

Secretary of the Ministry of National Development Planning (PPN) Syahrial Loetan asserted that the government will prove that it could play the role as democratic regulator to support every sector, including informal sector which is expected to be able to safe the economy. “The government will support regulation and security in informal sector,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bambang Widianto, the ministry’s expert staff on Human Resources and Poverty Issues said some sectors such as manufacture, agriculture and plantation still has an opportunity to absorb a lot of workers. According to Bambang, the government found difficulties to provide job for unemployed persons due to their low education levels. 55 % of job seekers are only graduated from elementary school. “Only 2.7 % of them hold bachelor degree. Therefore, if you hold a bachelor degree, the you belongs to the elite group,” he said. He also hopes that the job offered in manufacture and plantation sectors are sustainable jobs, not only temporary ones..

According to the Central Statistic Agency (BPS) data, the number of unemployment in August 2007 reached 10.01 million or down 8.42 percent from 10.93 million in August 2006, and down 5.08 percent from 10.55 million in February 2007. BPS Deputy for Social Statistics, Arizal Ahnaf, said the National Workforce survey (Sakernas) carried out in 2007 on 278 thousands families, revealed that the number of working people in August 2007 reached 99.93 million or up 4.68 percent from 95.46 million in August 2006. The number of working population increases by 2.40 percent from 97.58 million in February 2007. “Unemployment rate in August 2007 reached 9.11 percent, or down from 9.75 percent in February 2007, and 10.28 percent in Agustus 2006,'' he said.

Meanwhile the total workforce in August 2007 reached 109.94 million or up 3.33 percent from the 106.39 million in August 2006 and up 1.67 percent from February 2007 that reached 108.13 people. 1.21 million out of the total recorded unemployed persons admitted that they have given up hope because they are still unable to find any job even though they have send application many times and they never get any answer.

Facts and figures 10.1 million - the number of jobless people in Indonesia in August 2007 according to BPS.