PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The economic growth rate of West Java in the first quarter of 2025 was 4.98 percent year on year (yoy). This figure exceeds the national economic growth which only reached 4.87 percent.

Acting Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of West Java Province, Darwis Sitorus said that according to the business sector that was the source of the highest growth was the agricultural category at 1.83 percent, the trade category at 0.90 percent, transportation and warehousing at 0.56 percent, information and communication at 0.56 percent.

"Meanwhile, according to expenditure, the highest source of growth is household consumption at 2.99 percent, PMTB at 0.74 percent and government consumption at 0.04 percent," he said at the Official Statistics News release at the West Java Province BPS Office Hall, Monday, (05/05/2025).

The largest _Source of growth (SOG)_ in the first quarter of 2025 year on year was agriculture at 31.89 percent, trade at 6.23 percent and transportation and warehousing at 10.68 percent.

"The increase in rice and corn production along with the return to normal planting patterns is a factor in agricultural growth. While in trade, the cause is an increase in retail sales during Ramadan, especially in the information and communication equipment, food, beverages and tobacco and clothing groups," said Darwis.

On a q-to-q basis in the first quarter of 2025, the West Java economy grew by 0.28 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. According to the business sector, the category that experienced the highest growth on a q-to-q basis was the agricultural category at 7.25 percent, followed by the financial services and insurance category at 6.35 percent.

Meanwhile, the industry category, which is the highest share in the structure of West Java's GRDP, experienced a decline of 0.22 percent. The same thing was experienced by the construction category which fell by 1.96 percent, and the accommodation and food and beverage category fell by 4.24 percent.

The rate of economic growth according to expenditure, household consumption rose by 0.32 percent, followed by LNPRT consumption by 2.41 percent on a q-to-q basis. Meanwhile, West Java's net exports in the first quarter of 2025 grew by 32.26 percent. However, government consumption decreased by 42.62 percent, this is in line with the efficiency carried out by the government in early 2025.

"In the first quarter of 2025, according to the business sector, the agriculture, forestry and agriculture category became the highest source of growth, which was 0.49 percent. Meanwhile, according to expenditure, household consumption became the highest source of growth, which was 0.19 percent," he said.

Labor Absorption Improves

BPS also noted that in February 2025 in West Java, the working population increased by 0.90 million people to 24.99 million people compared to February 2024. Meanwhile, the Labor Force Participation Rate (TPAK) in February 2025 was 68.91 percent (up 1.57 percentage points compared to February 2024).

The Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) decreased by 0.17 percentage points to 6.74 percent.

The Open Unemployment Rate is the percentage of the number of unemployed people to the total workforce. The workforce is the working age population (15 years and over) who are working or looking for work. The TPT shows how much of the workforce is not absorbed by the labor market.

"The number of working population in West Java reached 24.99 million people, with the largest distribution of working population as laborers/employees at 40.58 percent and self-employed at 22.53 percent," explained Darwis in his press release.

Darwis also explained the proportion of formal workers as much as 44.11 percent and informal as much as 55.89 percent. Formal workers are jobs assisted by permanent workers and also workers/employees or staff. While informal workers are self-employed, assisted by casual workers, freelance workers and unpaid family workers.

"The highest absorption of labor according to the business sector is the trade sector at 23.10 percent, followed by the processing industry at 18.12 percent and agriculture at 15.57 percent," said Darwis.