  The manufacturing industry sector was expected to generate new employment
opportunities and take on labour. Gradually, however, it emerged as a menace to
the sustenance of its workers. According to the findings of this study, 24
manufacturing subsectors with ISIC 2 digits in Indonesia exhibited regressive
and abnormal patterns in the period 2012-2020. This suggests that, to a great
extent, labour absorption has been limited and, in some cases, even shown a
decline. Anomalous occurrences were observed in three subsectors: ISIC 12
(tobacco products), ISIC 26 (computer, electronic and optical products), and
ISIC 31 (furniture). In contrast, regressive phenomena were present in the
remaining 21 ISIC subsectors. Furthermore, the manufacturing industry displayed
a negative correlation between employment and efficiency index, demonstrating
this anomalous and regressive phenomenon. This implies that as the efficiency
index of the manufacturing industry increases, the index of labour absorption
decreases
