Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the downstreaming, manufacturing, and food and beverage (F&B) sectors have become key drivers of increased employment absorption.According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data, employment increased by 522 thousand people during the February-May 2026 period.”The growth in employment is the result of investment, with 30 percent of investment returning to the downstreaming sector,” Hartarto said at a press conference here on Wednesday.Meanwhile, in Java Island, more investment has flowed into manufacturing. The sectors have become among the main drivers of increased employment absorption, he added.Both sectors have a significant capacity to create jobs since they require workers at various stages of production, from raw material processing to product distribution.In addition to downstreaming and manufacturing, the F&B sector has also contributed to job creation. The sector recorded growth of around 10 percent, in line with rising consumption and tourism activities.”The F&B sector, supported by both domestic tourists and foreign visitors, has also contributed to employment absorption,” he said.Earlier, BPS Deputy for Balance Sheets and Statistical Analysis Edy Mahmud mentioned the increase in employment absorption during the February-May 2026 period was in line with the growth of the labor force, which reached 155.41 million people, an increase of 497 thousand people.BPS recorded that as of May 2026, the working-age population reached 220.23 million people. The figure increased by 689 thousand people compared to February 2026.Of the total employed population, 98.98 million people were working full-time, an increase of 391 thousand people.”Meanwhile, the number of part-time workers reached 38.42 million, an increase of 72 thousand people, while underemployed workers totaled 10.79 million, up by 59 thousand people,” Mahmud noted.