Bali Labor Force Fell as More Residents Returned to School

Denpasar — Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) Bali reported on Nov. 6 that the province’s labor force fell by 3.830 thousand people year-on-year in August 2026 to 2.74 million, as more working-age residents moved into education.

The shift occurred even as Bali’s working-age population rose by 25.23 thousand people to 3.57 million. The population outside the labor force increased by 29.06 thousand to 0.84 million, with students accounting for an additional 22.24 thousand people.

Agus Gede Hendrayana Hermawan, head of BPS Bali, said the movement of working-age residents into education was a major factor in the decline. The labor-force participation rate fell to 76.66 percent in August 2026 from 77.31 percent in August 2025.

Why Bali’s labor-force shift matters to foreign residents

For foreign residents, the figures describe a change in Bali’s local labor market rather than a new immigration rule. A larger student population and a smaller labor force can affect how the island’s workforce is understood, particularly in sectors that depend on locally available workers. The figures do not state that foreigners are included in the education shift or that their residence or work permissions have changed.

The data also place the decline in context: Bali’s working-age population expanded, but the number counted as economically active contracted because more residents were classified outside the labor force. In practical terms, the figures distinguish between the size of the working-age population and the portion participating in work or seeking work.

BPS recorded the increase in non-labor-force residents alongside the fall in participation. No further action or policy change was stated in the reports.

Sources

• Tribun Bali — regional news report
• bali.bps.go.id