Indonesia LMP 2025 (Final)
Indonesia LMP 2025 (Final)
Indonesia
2025
This profile brings insights and central information of the labour
market’s structure, status, and challenges in the country.
www.ulandssekretariatet.dk
Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
PREFACE
The Danish Trade Union Development Agency implementation and monitoring. National
(DTDA) is the development organisation of the statistical institutions and international
Danish trade union movement. DTDA’s work databanks (e.g., ILOSTAT and NATLEX, World
aligns with the International Labour Bank Open Data, the U.S. Department of State,
Organization’s global Decent Work Agenda and other internationally recognised labour-
(DWA), based on its four pillars: creating related global indexes) are also used as
decent jobs, guaranteeing rights at work, sources of data and information.
extending social protection, and promoting
social dialogue. The overall development The profile is regularly updated to reflect the
objective is to eradicate poverty and support latest developments. Labour Market Profiles for
the development of just and democratic more than 20 countries are available on DTDA’s
societies by promoting the DWA. website, ensuring stakeholders have access to
the most recent information:
The DTDA collaborates with trade union https://www.ulandssekretariatet.dk/.
organisations in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe,
Latin America, and the Middle East. The The DTDA supports development programmes
programmes’ immediate objective is to assist in Indonesia in collaboration with the
the partner organisations in becoming change Confederation of Indonesia Prosperity Trade
agents in their own national and regional Union (KSBSI) and the Confederation of
labour market context, capable of achieving Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI).
tangible improvements in the national DWA
conditions and the labour-related Sustainable If you have any comments about the profile,
Development Goals (SDGs). please contact Mr. Kasper Andersen
([email protected]) from DTDA.
The Labour Market Profile (LMP) format is a
comprehensive resource that offers a detailed The front-page photo shows Indonesian workers
overview of the structure, development, and sorting tobacco leaves at the Indonesia Java
challenges of the labour market. It covers key Jember tobacco factory. The picture was taken
indicators such as unionism, social dialogue, bi- by Mr. Joerg Boethling / Alamy Stock Photo.
/tri-partite mechanisms, labour policy
development, legal reforms status’ compliance Address:
with international standards, just transition, and Ulandssekretariatet
the Fourth Industrial Revolution, providing a Islands Brygge 32D
wealth of information for stakeholders. DK-2300 Copenhagen S
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Although Indonesia has experienced relatively employment structures. Another imbalance in the
stable politics and solid economic growth, labour market’s dynamics is the weak
which have supported job creation, job quality enforcement mechanisms for the labour dispute
remains a persistent issue. The high prevalence resolution system, which reflect fragile security
of the informal economy, weak wage growth, and trust factors.
and income inequality are factors that exhibit this
characteristic. The economy struggles with slow Indonesia’s labour market faces
growth of high-value sectors, echoing high transformations influenced by technological
structural youth unemployment. Financing advancements, demographic shifts, and
Indonesia’s labour market model is tested by frail evolving working conditions. These changes
government revenue, especially income tax, have several challenges that negatively impact
undermining the social protection system. its development and social equity; for example,
the middle class is shrinking, and labour
At the beginning of the 2020s, controversial productivity levels are low. Although workers are
labour law reforms aimed to relax the labour slowly becoming better educated, they are
market’s legal framework rigidities, causing a trapped in a cycle in low-paying, insecure jobs.
backlash over worker protections. The formal It is worth mentioning that Indonesia’s relatively
labour market has been plagued by high hiring high minimum wage level has reduced its export
costs for employers, which discourage firms from of workers. Besides, it is a popular outsourcing
hiring permanent employees. It has further destination, offering expertise in the business
pushed many companies’ preference for process outsourcing (BPO) industry, as well as the
outsourcing and temporary contracts. This rise of gig work, which is known for its flexibility
situation has caught Indonesian workers in a state and minimal entry requirements, along with
of very high informality, limiting the effectiveness reshuffled job structures.
of business and labour market regulations. The
country is even ranked among the worst countries Indonesia’s social protection system has been
for workers by the Global Rights Index. reshuffled by replacing the approach to
poverty relief with developmental social
Social dialogue through tripartite forums at the assistance programmes. It has delivered
national level has evolved as a springboard significant progress toward universal health
for social and political engagement in coverage, and the population covered by at
Indonesia, whereas bipartite dialogue at the least one social protection benefit has risen
enterprise level remains underdeveloped. For substantially. However, social security
instance, the coverage of collective bargaining programmes demonstrate meagre progress.
agreements stands very low. The trade union Changes in job structures, persistent informality,
movement is struggling to curb the declining trend vulnerability to climate change and disaster risks,
in trade union density, but it is attempting to and changing demographics bring mounting
attract new members from emerging forms of confronts for the social protection system.
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COUNTRY MAP
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE .......................................................................................................................................... I
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... II
COUNTRY MAP .............................................................................................................................IV
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE .......................................................................................................... 1
Special Economic Zones ......................................................................................................................................... 2
LABOUR LEGISLATION ................................................................................................................... 2
Observations on Labour Legislation .................................................................................................................... 3
Ratified ILO Conventions ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Trade Agreements .................................................................................................................................................. 4
SOCIAL PARTNERS ......................................................................................................................... 4
Government ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
Trade Unions............................................................................................................................................................ 5
Employers’ Organisations ..................................................................................................................................... 6
SOCIAL DIALOGUE......................................................................................................................... 7
Central tripartite institutions ................................................................................................................................. 7
Labour dispute resolution system ......................................................................................................................... 8
TRADE UNION RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ............................................................................................. 9
WORKING CONDITIONS ................................................................................................................ 9
WORKFORCE ................................................................................................................................ 10
Unemployment ..................................................................................................................................................... 11
Migration............................................................................................................................................................... 12
Child Labour ......................................................................................................................................................... 14
Gender .................................................................................................................................................................. 15
Youth ...................................................................................................................................................................... 15
EDUCATION ................................................................................................................................. 16
Vocational Training ............................................................................................................................................. 17
SOCIAL PROTECTION ................................................................................................................... 18
KEY FACTORS THAT CHANGE THE LABOUR MARKET LANDSCAPE ........................................... 20
Impact of the informal economy ....................................................................................................................... 20
Climate change effect and the just transition agenda ................................................................................. 21
Fourth industrial revolution is reshuffling the labour market ....................................................................... 22
APPENDIX: ADDITIONAL DATA................................................................................................... 24
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................. 29
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Tables
Table 1: Key indicators for employed gender gaps in Indonesia, 2023 ................................................. 15
Table 2: Proportion of population covered by social protection systems in Indonesia, %, latest data
................................................................................................................................................................................ 19
Table 3: Indonesia’s legal framework on industrial relations ..................................................................... 24
Table 4: Legal reservations in Indonesia concerning the rights to organise, collective bargaining, and
strikes ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Table 5: Status of ratified ILO Conventions in Indonesia............................................................................. 25
Table 6: Scores for Labour Rights Index’s legislative performance indicators for Indonesia, 2024 ... 26
Table 7: Number of members in national trade union organisations and their share in total membership
in Indonesia, 2019 .............................................................................................................................................. 26
Table 8: Indonesia’s key workforce data, 2023 ........................................................................................... 28
Table 9: Indonesia – Legal framework scores for women, business and the law, 2024 ....................... 28
Table 10: List of central education laws and policy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training
in Indonesia ........................................................................................................................................................... 28
Figures
Figure 1: Gross domestic product, inflation, and unemployment growth trends in Indonesia, %, 2015-
2026 ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Figure 2: Level of national compliance with labour rights among the Philippines and ASEAN countries,
2022 ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Figure 3: Trade union density rate in Indonesia, 2016-2022 ....................................................................... 5
Figure 4: Monthly nominal average earnings of employees and minimum wage in Indonesia, rupiah
(IDR) and real growth (%), 2014-2023 .......................................................................................................... 10
Figure 5: Unemployment rate in Indonesia and ASEAN, Total and Youth (15-24 years), %, 2015-2023
................................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Figure 6: Net migration and personal remittance in Indonesia, 2010-2023 .......................................... 13
Figure 7: Internally displaced persons and refugee population in Indonesia, 2010-2023.................. 13
Figure 8: Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training in Indonesia
and other ASEAN countries, %, 2022/2023 ................................................................................................. 16
Figure 9: Share of employment by education trend in Indonesia, %, 2013-2023 ................................ 17
Figure 10: Proportion of informal employment in total employment in Indonesia, ASEAN and upper-
middle income countries, %, 2023 ................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 11: Individuals using the Internet (% of population) and mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100
people) in Indonesia and East Asia & Pacific (EAS), 2010-2023 .............................................................. 23
Boxes
Box 1: Indonesia's Labour Market Fact Sheet…...……………………………………………………iii
Box 2: Dynamics that generally influence the labour market…………………………………..……...iii
Box 3: Critical factors introduced in the Omnibus Law reform…………………………………………2
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exempts micro and small enterprises consultation with the social partners to bring it
from the obligation to engage in into compliance with international standards.6
collective bargaining in a country.4
Reports found that the government did not
Other new labour-related law reforms are effectively enforce provisions of the law
linked with, firstly, Indonesia’s Constitutional protecting freedom of association or
Court issuing Decision No. 168/PUU-XXI/2023 preventing antiunion discrimination. Many
in October 2024, resulting in substantial strikes were unsanctioned, or employers’ delays
modifications to the Manpower Law. Key in negotiating collective labour agreements
changes include rest periods, termination contributed to strike activity and legal
procedures, fixed-term contracts, and measures taken against union members in the
preference for Indonesian workers. This reform event of a failed agreement negotiation.7
balances employer flexibility with employee
protections, fostering a fairer labour market. The widespread informal economy also haunts
Secondly, the Indonesian government enacted the application of labour-related laws in
Law No. 4 of 2024, focusing on the welfare of practice. For instance, it leads employers and
mothers and children during the first 1,000 workers to use loopholes in business and labour
days of a child’s life. This legislation introduces regulations, often due to a lack of awareness
several obligations for employers. Thirdly, or incentives (see more in the Informal Economy
clarifications on foreign worker regulations sub-section).
concerning specific roles and timeframes and
prioritising the local workforce.
Ratified ILO Conventions
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Observations on Labour Legislation conventions enumerate international principles
Concerning the labour legislation applicable at and rights at work. Appendix Table 5 shows
the national level, measurements suggest that that nine out of ten Fundamental Conventions
Indonesia’s overall score on the Labour Rights and two of four Governance Conventions have
Index is 63 out of 100 (100 is the best) in 2024, been ratified, and 9 of 177 Technical
which was slightly below the Southeast Asia Conventions are up-to-date and actively
average (65) (see more in Appendix Table 4 promoted. The latest ratified convention is the
and Table 6). The country has experienced a Maritime Labour Convention in 2017.
slight improvement in the index rank owing to
reform in the law introducing criminal penalties The ILO’s independent supervisory system
for sexual harassment rather than just a body, the Committee of Experts on the
general prohibition. On the other hand, the Application of Conventions and
freedom of association indicator faces very Recommendations (CEACR) raised deep
poor regulations.5 concern of the implementation of the Right to
Organise and Collective Bargaining
As indicated in Box 3 above, several factors of Convention (C098). They underlined significant
the Omnibus Law on Job Creation of 2023 gaps in law and practice in terms of the
have raised concerns about the legislation, and protection against anti-union discrimination,
it has been advised to be reviewed in the scope of collective bargaining permitted
under the law, the promotion of collective
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bargaining, and interference in free and labour provisions are with European Free Trade
voluntary collective bargaining concerning Association (EFTA) and Chile.9
the international standards.8
A relatively minor economic leverage of
The Sustainable Development Goals indicator Indonesia’s two trade agreements with labour
8.8.2 measures compliance with fundamental provisions has a meagre power scope on
labour rights. Based on ILO textual sources and improving workers’ rights.
national legislation, Indonesia’s scoring has
recently deteriorated. Still, it is better on
margin than many ASEAN countries’ average SOCIAL PARTNERS
(see more details in Figure 2). This trend Social partners are central to promoting the
suggests the country is losing pace with the realisation of core labour rights and social
specific SDG goal. justice for workers by protecting freedom of
association and collective bargaining. These
Figure 2: Level of national compliance with organisations are usually represented as the
labour rights among the Philippines and ASEAN
countries, 2022 government, trade unions, and employers’
10 organisations.
9
8
7
Government
6
The central government is responsible for
5
developing laws, regulations, and procedures
4
3
to assist the Provincial and Local District
2
Governments in implementing labour affairs.
1
0
The Ministry of Manpower and
Transmigration (MoMT) is responsible for the
Note: The value ranges from 0 to 10, with 0 being the best possible score
nation’s labour legislation and regulating
(indicating higher levels of compliance with freedom of association and worker rights and migration. The ministry is
collective bargaining (FACB) rights) and 10 the worst (indicating lower
levels of compliance with FACB rights based on ILO textual sources and
also involved in the labour dispute resolution
national legislation. system and labour inspectorate and as a social
Sources: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour
Market (KILM).
partner in the tripartite institutions on industrial
relations (see more in the Social Dialogue). The
labour inspection governance structure is
Trade Agreements decentralised. Local officials from the MoMT
Indonesia has signed 16 trade agreements, are responsible for enforcing regulations on
including six plurilateral regional trade minimum wage and hours of work, as well as
agreements (RTAs) via the Association of health and safety standards. Provincial
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), representing governments are involved in determining
ten member countries – Brunei, Cambodia, provincial minimum wage rates and labour
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the provisions.
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
These RTAs have no labour provisions. The Strategic plans and policy directions guide the
only bilateral trade agreements with some MoMT. In 2025, the ministry is ready to launch
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Some of the leading establishments are the are handled can significantly impact the
tripartite cooperation institutions that are functionality and stability of the labour market.
concentrated into:
In Indonesia, industrial relations disputes are
• The National Tripartite Cooperation regulated by the Settlement of Industrial
Institution (NTCI) and the Provincial, Relations Disputes Law of 2004. Several
District/City Tripartite Cooperation methods of resolving industrial relations
Institutes. disputes are possible before filing a lawsuit
• Sector-based National Tripartite with the specialised Industrial Relations
Cooperation Institute and sector-based Courts (IRCs) via bipartite negotiation and
Provincial, District/City Tripartite conciliation. If it fails, it could go through a
Cooperation Institutes. tripartite settlement, which is choosing between
mediation, conciliation, or arbitration. This
Representatives from the government, tripartite settlement system has faced
entrepreneurs’ organizations, and trade/ weaknesses and inefficiencies, leaving many
labour unions shall be members of tripartite workers on their own to battle it out with their
cooperation institutes. employers (see more in the Working Conditions
section).
Other important tripartite institutions are:
The IRC system has been haunted by too
• The National Wage Council (NWC) often prioritising the interests of business
advises on wage policies and reviews the owners, and the quality of the decision-
governors’ proposals on their respective making process remains low. Antiunion
regional minimum wages. discrimination cases have moved excessively
slowly through the system, and bribery and
• The National Occupational Safety and
judicial corruption in worker disputes continue
Health Council (NOSHC) advises on
to prevail. While dismissed workers sometimes
occupational safety and health.
received severance pay or other compensation,
• The National Productivity Council (NPC) is
they were rarely reinstated.
responsible for consulting about
productivity improvements. Generally, the legal industrial relations
• The National Institute for Training dispute system encounters weak enforcement
Coordination (NVTC) advises on training mechanisms, a widespread informal economy,
policies and has committees dealing with limited union power, and vulnerable groups like
accreditation, training institutions, skills migrant workers, women, and those in
training standards and apprenticeship precarious employment. As indicated, reports
programmes. listed bribery and judicial corruption in
workers’ disputes occurred, resulting in
unfavourable results for workers. While
Labour dispute resolution system workers sometimes received severance pay or
The labour dispute resolution system is other compensation, they were rarely
designed to address conflicts between workers reinstated.24
and employers, ensuring fair treatment and the
enforcement of labour rights. The way disputes
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The low coverage of Collective Bargaining Employment in the agricultural sector fell
Agreements (CBAs) further brings most during the last decade, while experienced an
Indonesian income earners’ working upsurge in the service sector. The industry
conditions in limbo. Overall, reforms related sector brought a meagre rise; manufacturing
to fixed-term contracts, outsourcing of work employment share of total employment has
and labour, and the termination of employment been on a flat growth during the last decade.
threaten an ever-greater usage of precarious
jobs in the country.28 Indonesia’s labour market faces several hurdles
that impact its economic development and
Another issue that challenges the labour market social equity. Key issues include that the
development is that Indonesia’s labour country continues to be stuck with low labour
inspection system faces limited coverage, productivity and a mismatch between the
ineffective central-regional coordination, and skills possessed by workers and those
minimal budget allocation. With an actual demanded by employers. This disparity
ratio of labour inspectors to employees of hurdles economic development and the
1:44,000 (or 1:95,000 of total employment) in country’s aspirations to transition to a high-
2023, it is far below the ILO standard of income economy. Addressing these encounters
1:20,000, thus standing suboptimal. requires substantial investments in education
and vocational training to align workforce
capabilities with industry needs.
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Despite overall economic growth, income unemployment on the labour market can be
inequality persists, with a significant far-reaching, affecting economic growth, social
disparity between urban and rural stability, workforce dynamics, and even future
populations. The middle class has shrunk from job prospects.
22% in 2019 to 17% in 2024, affecting
domestic consumption and economic stability. Figure 5: Unemployment rate in Indonesia and
Other data show that labour income share as a ASEAN, Total and Youth (15-24 years), %, 2015-
per cent of GDP is slowly falling, challenging 2023
18
the evolution of the middle class.29 These trends
16
pose challenges for domestic consumption, as a
14
robust middle-class is often a driver of
12
sustainable economic growth.
10
8
Labour unrest has been a recurring issue,
6
often stemming from attempts by employers to
4
circumvent Indonesia’s rigid labour laws by 2
classifying employees as contract workers. This 0
practice undermines job security and worker 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Indonesia - Total Indonesia - Youth
welfare, leading to increased labour militancy ASEAN - Total ASEAN - Youth
and strikes. Ensuring compliance with labour Source: International Labour Organization, LFS - Labour Force Survey.
regulations and protecting workers' rights
remain critical challenges. Unemployment is predominantly an urban
phenomenon, affecting young people and
Pervasive corruption and bureaucratic those with higher levels of education.
inefficiencies hinder effective labour market Compared with the broader worldview, the
governance in Indonesia. These issues affect relatively low unemployment rate suggests that
various sectors, leading to economic volatility Indonesia’s economy is generating jobs, which is
and inequality. Efforts to combat corruption supported by a limited export of workers (see
and improve public administration are essential more in the Migration sub-section). Instead, this
to create a more equitable and efficient labour relatively low unemployment rate
market. underestimates the number of individuals
engaged in casual or informal activities,
where many work a few hours per week as
Unemployment a means of survival. In addition, the
Unemployment could disrupt the labour market intermittent nature of subsistence farming, which
by affecting wages, matching workers to jobs, is occupied only during planting and harvesting,
and overall economic productivity. Indonesia’s contributes to what is known as ‘disguised’
unemployment rate is slightly higher than the unemployment. Additionally, unemployment is a
average of the other ASEAN countries. statistical component of the employed group,
However, it demonstrates a slowly falling trend excluding individuals outside the workforce.
at the beginning of the 2020s. The youth Approximately 54% of the working-age
unemployment rate is significantly higher than population in Indonesia is estimated to be
the ASEAN average but curbs the gap faster ‘economically inactive’, a term that masks a
(see Figure 5). The impact of high youth massive potential for unemployment. These
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aspects could give a more accurate picture of implement migrant worker protection laws and
the real unemployment rate (see more in the provide gender-responsive counselling services
Youth sub-section). for migrant workers departing abroad or
returning.32 In November 2024, trade unions
In 2020, Indonesia established an participated in a joint effort to promote the
unemployment insurance fund in a crisis. This implementation of gender responsiveness fair
fund should be financed via general recruitment, responsible business conduct and
government tax revenue, employer code of conduct for private placement agencies
contributions, and the National Social Security to better protect Indonesia migrant workers.33
System for Employment (Badan Penyelenggara
Jaminan Sosial Ketenagakerjaan, BPJS-TK). The Many Indonesians move to improve their job
predetermined financial arrangement created opportunities, follow their family members,
a budget constraint, though, resulting in limiting marry, educate, or respond to shocks due to
the coverage of vulnerable workers and conflicts and climate issues. Young people
limiting the payment of unemployment are especially attracted to move from rural
benefits.30 Data show that the number of areas to urban zones, driven by the
unemployed Indonesian workers receiving manufacturing and construction sectors.
unemployment benefits was 0% since 2019 Indonesia's population lived in urban areas and
(see more in the Social Protection section). cities steadily grew, reaching 59% in 2023.
There is also rural-to-rural movement,
especially for seasonal agricultural work and
Migration mining.
Migration has a complex and multifaceted
impact on the labour market. While it can fill Indonesian labour migration to other countries
gaps in the workforce, contribute to economic – both voluntary and forced – has a long
growth, and provide demographic benefits, it history. About six to nine million Indonesian
can also create challenges such as wage diasporas live abroad, primarily in Malaysia,
pressures and job displacement, particularly Saudi Arabia, Japan, and the Republic of
for lower-skilled workers. Korea.34 An equal number of Indonesians are
believed to be working overseas illegally.
Indonesia’s legal framework for migration is Some of the reasons are that only around one
guided by the Immigration Law of 2011 and in ten Indonesians is interested in migrating
the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers abroad due to the requirements for
Law of 2017. It includes well-developed areas documented migration. In addition, gender
focusing on social security, health care, shelters differences in the propensity to become
for victims of trafficking and education for undocumented migrants may be driven by time
migrants.31 constraints due to the higher care burden
women face.35 Women and low-skilled
The trade union movement participates in migrants are overrepresented in temporary
agenda-setting and the implementation of labour migration flows to non-OECD economies.
migration policy only on an ad hoc basis. Most Indonesian overseas migrants work as
Recently, the Konfederasi Serikat Buruh Seluruh domestic workers or caregivers in their
Indonesia (KSBSI) collaborates with civil society destination country.36
organisations to help local governments
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Figure 6 shows that although more have left (IDPs) from conflict and violence during the last
than arrived in Indonesia during the last decade, grasped 55,000 in 2023. It has been
decade, the net migration has been stable, worse among IDPs from disasters, with an
except for a rupture in 2020 and 2021 due to aggregated 8.1 million persons from 2008 to
the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 2023. These latter disaster events are mainly
Considering the country’s high population, the related to floods, earthquakes, volcanic
net migration flow does not appear to be a activity, and storms, complicating many
critical structural challenge. This stance is workers’ ability to make a living and facing job
supported by the relatively high minimum insecurity, lower income, poor working
wages compared with other neighbouring conditions, and increased poverty (see more in
countries. Also, personal remittance is not a the Just Transition agenda section).38
central part of Indonesia’s economy.
Figure 7: Internally displaced persons and
Figure 6: Net migration and personal remittance refugee population in Indonesia, 2010-2023
in Indonesia, 2010-2023 1000000 12000
0 2 900000
10000
1.8 800000
-10000
1.6 700000
8000
-20000 1.4 600000
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seekers and refugees have difficulties staying triggered an increase in the number of child
in the country. These vulnerable groups are workers in 2020. Although the numbers have
not permitted to work and receive no social decreased since then, they remain higher than
benefits from Indonesia’s government. They the pre-pandemic level.39 This information hints
can remain in the country while registration that the National Action Plan on Child Labour
documents are processed by the Office of the Eradication and Roadmap for the Acceleration
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of Making Indonesia Free of Child Labour,
(UNHCR). aiming to eradicate child labour by 2022, has
not fully reached the goal.
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bulge’, a term used to describe the increase in insurance. These groups are challenged by
the youthful population. In 2023, the inadequate training and career opportunities,
youth (aged 15-24 years) accounted for a and they usually earn less than the minimum
substantial portion of the working-age wage compared to the non-youth groups.
population, reaching 45 million or 21% of the Insufficient job creation in the formal sector and
total working-age population, facing a slowly cultural aspects discourage many Indonesian
dwindling trend.41 youths, who become economically inactive in
the labour market.
The Youth Law of 2009 sets Indonesia’s legal
framework for youth development. This The not-in-education, employment, or training
initiative is supported by youth strategies (NEET rate) better indicates the extent of
interlinked with the National Long-Term barriers facing young people in the labour
Development Plan. market than the unemployment rate does.
Indonesia’s NEET rate was 21% in 2023,
The country is getting close to ranking at the with meagre drops and placed among the
high-medium level on the Global Youth highest in ASEAN countries (see more in
Development Index, 77 out of 183 countries in Figure 8). Indonesia’s NEET rate is higher for
2023.42 Although some relatively well- women than men, 26% vs. 17% respectively.
functioning factors like inclusion, peace, and Young people from lower-income families are
civic participation indicators, they still struggle usually more present in the NEET rate.
in terms of wellbeing and education.
Figure 8: Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years)
Based on national survey data, around an not in education, employment or training in
additional 12 million new Indonesian young Indonesia and other ASEAN countries, %,
workers entered the labour market during the 2022/2023
25
last decade. The youth employment-to-
population ratio has been stable at around
20
40%.43 The youth unemployment rate has
been relatively high, indicating that the
15
economy is not generating sufficient jobs
(revisit Figure 5). A central challenge for many
10
young Indonesian people is their difficulties
with the school-to-work transition. Once they
5
succeed in entering the labour market, they
have problems finding quality formal jobs. It
0
often leads to a mismatch between job
requirements and graduates’ qualifications. It is
worth mentioning that the relatively low labour * Data from 2020.
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT.
exports have also fuelled the comparatively
high youth unemployment.
EDUCATION
Active youth workers are often among
The connection between education and labour
informal workers or short-term labour
in Indonesia is essential for economic
contracting, sidelining their access to social
development. The Indonesian education
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system is immense and diverse. With more On the positive side, Indonesia’s government
than 52 million students, three million teachers, revived non-formal education and established
and 400 thousand schools, it is the fourth learning houses through community-government
largest bulge in the world.44 The education cooperation.
sector is covered by a comprehensive legal
framework. Although the country has promoted Generally, government spending on
reforms in this sector, including the recent education levels in Indonesia has been low
emancipated learning reform that significantly compared with the regional average. Even
expanded access to education, levels of recent budgetary reallocations have led to cuts
learning remained low. For instance, in higher education funding, sparking protests
Programme for International Student and concerns about the future of academic
Assessment (PISA) data suggest that more than quality and access.
three in four 15-year-olds did not meet
minimum proficiency levels in mathematics and Indonesia's education system faces complex
reading.45 challenges that impact the quality of
education and its alignment with labour
Some shifts in employment by education are market needs. Although the 12-year
that those with intermediate education are on compulsory education rule is in place, uneven
the rise, while those in less education and infrastructure and suboptimal resource
basic education are falling. Advanced distribution often hinder the effectiveness of
education graduates are slowly climbing (see inclusive education. Access to qualified
more in Figure 9). This development shows that teachers, adequate learning facilities, and
employment is becoming better educated. appropriate educational materials remains
limited in remote areas. Also, many regions still
Figure 9: Share of employment by education lack access to reliable internet and digital
trend in Indonesia, %, 2013-2023 devices, hindering the effectiveness of
50%
educational technologies and online learning
45%
platforms.
40%
35%
Indonesian trade unions are integral to the
30%
education sector. They engage in policy
25%
advocacy, address workforce challenges, and
20%
15%
influence labour-related aspects of education.
10%
Their involvement is decisive for the continuous
5%
improvement and responsiveness of the
0%
country’s education system to educators' and
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
students' needs.
Less than basic Basic Intermediate Advanced
Source: Indonesia National Labour Force Survey; International Labour
Organization, ILOSTAT.
Vocational Training
Apart from these improvements, a majority is Indonesia’s Technical and Vocational Education
struggling with skill development due to and Training (TVET) system is covered by a
insufficient training, affecting productivity and legal and policy framework. This system is
increasing school dropout rates in recent years. divided into formal, non-formal, and informal
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
schemes involving several ministries and private training providers and small and medium
actors. The country is struggling with the enterprises seeking to invest in workforce
fragmentation of TVET governance, development.
complicating a national non-compulsory
system of certification and qualification. It is Some of the main challenges for Indonesia’s
worth mentioning that Indonesia’s trade union TVET sector concern being heavily supply-
movement has entered a more active role in driven. It has stymied innovation at TVET
skills and employment development via institutes from redesigning their programmes to
advocacy for skills development policies, meet industry and firms’ needs, resulting in skills
participation in tripartite institutions (National mismatches and a lack of demanded skills in the
Training Board and other industrial relations labour market.49
forums), and implementation of training
programmes.
SOCIAL PROTECTION
Central TVET indicators deliver improvements in Social protection and the labour market are
Indonesia. For example, the proportion of 15– closely connected, as social protection
24-year-olds enrolled in vocational programmes play a central role in enhancing
education grew from 7.8% in 2010 to 13% the well-being of workers, promoting job
in 2023, which is on the high end compared security, and reducing poverty. The high
to ASEAN countries. It hints that participating uncertainty of social and economic impacts
in education and training designed specifically triggered by climate and environmental
to lead to a job is in progress.46 Studies found change and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)
that individuals with vocational education have disruptions increases pressure on the social
a statistically significant lower probability of protection system, leading to a rising need for
being unemployed contrasted to those deeper and broader coverage, especially
individuals with non-vocational education.47 among the most vulnerable people.
Another central factor is that Indonesian In Indonesia, social protection has proven to be
firms offering formal training are low and a central component of economic development
growing slowly, representing 8.4% in 2023, and progress towards a more cohesive society.
or 24 percentage points lower than the The national constitution recognises the right to
Eastern Asia and the Pacific average, at social security for all and the state’s
32%.48 Formal firms continue to be a small responsibility in developing social security.
group compared to the widespread informal Public spending on social protection reached
micro- and small enterprises, not to mention 1.5% of GDP in 2022, which was considerably
enterprise-based training is concentrated in lower than the Asia-Pacific average of 4.9%.50
more industrialised regions. One primary
reason workers do not attend training is the The country’s decentralised governance
unavailability of appropriate training. The structure poses challenges in uniformly
corporate training market faces confusion delivering social protection services across
about TVET governance that affects quality diverse regions. Coordinating policies and
standardisation, regulatory compliance issues, ensuring consistent implementation require
and limited access to funding for training robust mechanisms to address regional
programmes. These barriers impact smaller disparities.
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
The social protection system has been Kesehatan) for healthcare and the Workers
reshuffled by replacing the approach to Social Security (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) for
poverty relief with developmental social socio-economic protection.
assistance programmes. It has changed the
administrative and legislative architecture that The system for non-contributory social
reformed the social insurance system, protection programmes was boosted in recent
expanding coverage and improving benefits.51 years: Based on the latest data available, the
This evolution has delivered significant progress coverage of social safety net programmes
towards universal health coverage, and the grasped 44% of the population in 2021, with
population covered by at least one social some leakage among the richest quintiles.53
protection benefit rose significantly. Another trend is that the social insurance
programmes have delivered meagre progress
Indonesian formal workers are still more in coverage during the last decade, landing at
protected in terms of social protection than 10% of the population in 2021, concentrated
informal workers. The latter group is not among the richest quintiles.
eligible for social assistance nor is able or
unwilling to register for social insurance. A A remarkable upsurge of the Indonesian
central issue for the relatively low participation population covered by at least one social
of informal workers in social security is mainly protection scheme from 28% in 2019 to 54%
due to their income irregularities and different in 2021, even superseded the regional
needs over time, putting them at risk of not average of 45% (see other social protection
having a secure retirement. A growing indicators’ coverage in Table 2).
preference for gig work with diluted
contractual positions also brings them at risk of Table 2: Proportion of population covered by
lack of adequate retirement plans.52 social protection systems in Indonesia, %, latest
data
Indicator Value
Indonesia’s trade union movement plays a
Population covered by at least one social
central role in advocating for reforms in the protection benefit
54%
social protection system to ensure better Persons above retirement age receiving
31%
security for workers. As economic conditions a pension
evolve and informal employment remains high, Persons with severe disabilities collecting
2.5%
unions push for more inclusive, fair, and disability social protection benefits
Unemployed receiving unemployment
sustainable social protection policies. For 0%
benefits
example, they advocate for inclusion of Mothers with newborns receiving
informal workers in national employment 29%
maternity benefits
insurance schemes. Employed covered in the event of work
26%
injury
All employees in Indonesia, including Poor persons covered by social
100%
protection systems
expatriates and their families, must
Children/households receiving
mandatorily participate in the National Social 44%
child/family cash benefits
Security System (Sistem Jaminan Sosial Vulnerable persons covered by social
50%
Nasional – SJSN). Social security programmes assistance
Source: International Labour Organisation, Key Indicators of the Labour
are run by two organisations – the Social Market (KILM).
Security Administrator for Health (BPJS
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
40%
Cross-cutting issues notably affect the labour
30%
market when intersecting with various economic,
20%
social, and environmental dimensions, impacting
10%
workers and employers across multiple sectors.
0%
In Indonesia, prominent topics influencing the Indonesia ASEAN Upper-middle income
countries
labour market include the impact of the Source: International Labour Organisation, Key Indicators of the Labour
Market (KILM).
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
Another central aspect of this high informality been on the rise in Indonesia; for instance,
rate hauns the country’s weak tax and vulnerable persons covered by social
employment statistic systems; for instance, assistance rose from 17% in 2019 to 50% in
there is no single way of measuring the informal 2021 as an impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
‘sector’. All enterprises in Indonesia, regardless (see more in the Social Protection section).56
of their size, must be registered by law. Micro-
or small enterprises dominate the Indonesian In Indonesia, informal workers are mainly in
labour market landscape, and 98% of firms the agricultural and service sectors; it is low
with fewer than ten employees are in the industry sector. Many Indonesia women
unregistered.55 This context implies that most work as domestic workers, which is on the rise,
firms operate outside the law and are and are often subject to informal, unsafe
considered informal. It is further dared by an working conditions both in the country and those
empirical task to differentiate between firms working abroad.57
and workers for whom informality is a voluntary
choice versus those for whom it is a last resort.
The Labour Union Law of 2000 focused on Climate change effect and the just
formal workers, sidelining the massive group of transition agenda
informal workers and new forms of workers Climate change is a cross-cutting factor that
such as gig and remote workers. This law reshape Indonesia’s labour market and
requires that a union be formed only if it has at economy by disrupting traditional jobs while
least ten members. Informal workers generally creating new economic opportunities in green
have less than ten members and are not industries. Actors in the labour market are
required to create a union. Overall, the tested for climate resilience, reskilling workers,
adverse environment challenges industrial and promoting sustainable job growth.
relations, organising workers, and performing
collective bargaining through social dialogue. Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic
On the positive side, unionism is emerging state, involving at least 17,500 islands with
among informal workers; some unions have highly varied geography, topography, and sea
been organising informal workers at the and coastal systems. The country is highly
community level using strategies in social vulnerable to climate change, which impacts
movement unionism. Trade unions also work floods, droughts, sea-level rise, rainfall, and
to extend training access to informal workers, temperatures. This climate change is expected
including domestic workers and ride-hailing to increase the occurrence and impact of
drivers; promote recognition of informal skills to natural hazards. High population density in
improve employability; advocate for inclusion hazard-prone areas and strong dependence
of informal workers in national employment on natural resource bases make them
insurance and skills schemes. vulnerable to projected climate variability and
climate change. Climate change is further likely
The government promotes implementing to affect water availability, health and
livelihood programmes and assistance, nutrition, the ability to manage disaster risk,
providing employment opportunities and and urban development, particularly in coastal
identifying measures to address the root causes zones. These bearings will be experienced
of informality among workers. The scope of across multiple sectors and regions,
these livelihood assistance programmes has
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
projecting costs between 2.5–7% of the emphasises a just transition for workers, the
country’s GDP.58 creation of decent, quality jobs, and providing
social protection to workers and their families
Indonesia ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016 to mitigate any adverse effects of the
and has incorporated climate considerations transition. However, the widespread informal
into its ambitious development agenda, setting economy continues to hamper the application
up carbon reduction emissions to 32% by 2030, of these policies.
achieving net zero by 2060, and mobilising
resources to achieve its climate ambitions. The
energy transition has been focused on reaching Fourth industrial revolution is
a cleaner energy system, involving direct reshuffling the labour market
impacts across sectors. This evolution is The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is
projected to trigger both job losses and job disrupting the labour market worldwide. Job
shifts; for example, new jobs are projected to displacement and gains due to digitisation are
create between 2.1 million and 3.7 million becoming more urgent, and upskilling and
direct jobs in renewable energy sectors by retooling are putting pressure on the TVET
2030.59 system. In Indonesia, projections suggest that
at least 20 million jobs could be replaced by
The legal framework that provides a road map automation by 2030, while 27 to 46 million
for implementing the energy transition is still new jobs could be created, including 10
under development. Although policy readiness million in new types of occupation.62
is in progress, measures for enterprises, active
labour market policies, and green skills Indonesia’s government has introduced 4IR as a
development are still lacking.60 It is worth strategic part of the development policy
mentioning that the Omnibus Law on Job agenda, including Making Indonesia 4.0 with a
Creation of 2023 cleared the way for the roadmap to revitalise its manufacturing sector.
privatisation of the electricity sector. It strives to become one of the global leading
economies in 2030. The five priority industries
Indonesia’s trade union movement has are food and beverage, automotive, textiles
contributed by building awareness about the and apparel, chemicals, and electronics.
energy sector transition and its implications
for workers. Education and training on energy 4IR advances a transformational effect on
change have been a priority. They are jobs and skills. So far, employment in
furthermore involved in preparing national manufacturing has been stalled, and people
energy transition policies and employment are becoming more dependent on services. On
transition plans at the enterprise level to ensure the positive side, youth in formal and non-
workers have access to skills training formal education and training and enrolled in
appropriate to the needs of the future labour vocational education have been on the rise,
market.61 supporting the 4IR policy agenda. On the
negative side, a difficulty is the widespread
The country identifies just transition as a key informal economy, limiting companies –
objective of mitigation and adaptation efforts particularly micro and small enterprises – to
at the policy level. It also signed the 2018 expand new and updated education and
Silesia Declaration on Just Transition, which training courses. As mentioned, Indonesian firms
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
offering formal training are low and meagrely App-based services (e.g., online drivers)
developing (revisit the Vocational Training sub- operating as informal workers face a barrier
section). to unionisation and access to social protection
insurance. This evolution further shifts attitudes
Indonesia is a popular outsourcing towards work-life balance, flexibility, and
destination due to relatively low labour career mobility.63 On the positive side, many
costs, a growing digital economy, business- gig workers have demonstrated a remarkable
friendly policies, political and economic capacity for self-organising, mutual aid and
stability, and a young and talented grassroots community participation of online
workforce. For example, the country offers drivers. It stands in contrast with the decrease
business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in union membership and participation in the
expertise. Big investments are in progress, formal sector.64
including Microsoft’s pledge of US$1.7 billion
to bolster Indonesia’s digital evolution, directed Another reflection is that individuals using the
at upskilling 840,000 Indonesians to support internet have accelerated and are getting
the burgeoning cloud and AI domains. closer to grasping the regional average. In
contrast, mobile cellular subscription
Another aspect is the rise of gig work, applications were a regional forerunner but
generally known for its flexibility and plummeted in 2018 due to the impact of new
minimal entry requirements. The emerging regulations for SIM card owners for telecom
sphere allows individuals without formal operators in Indonesia (see more in Figure 11).
qualifications to secure work, income, and
greater control over their work. This Figure 11: Individuals using the Internet (% of
phenomenon is fast-growing and has supported population) and mobile cellular subscriptions
the declining youth unemployment rate. (per 100 people) in Indonesia and East Asia &
However, it raises concerns about workers’ Pacific (EAS), 2010-2023
rights and protections since gig workers 180
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
Table 4: Legal reservations in Indonesia concerning the rights to organise, collective bargaining, and strikes
Right to organise
• Barriers to the establishment of organisations.
• Categories of workers prohibited or limited from forming or joining a union, or from holding a union
office.
• Restrictions on trade unions’ right to organise their administration.
Right to collective bargaining
• Barriers to the recognition of collective bargaining agents.
• Restrictions on the principle of free and voluntary bargaining.
• Restrictions on the scope of application and legal effectiveness of concluded collective agreements.
• Limitations or ban on collective bargaining in certain sectors: Civil servants’ trade union rights are unclear
due to the lack of implementing legislation for these workers.
Right to strike
• Ban or limitations on certain types of strike actions.
• Limitations or ban on strikes in certain sectors.
• Undermining of the recourse to strike actions or their effectiveness.
• Barriers to lawful strike actions.
Source: International Trade Union Confederation, Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights, Indonesia: Legal, February 2025.
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
Table 6: Scores for Labour Rights Index’s legislative performance indicators for Indonesia, 2024
Fair Decent Employment Family Maternity Safe Social Fair Child & Freedom of Index
wages Working Security Responsibilities at Work Work Security Treatment Forced Association score
Hours Labour
60 60 80 25 50 100 80 80 100 0 63
Note: Overall scores are calculated by taking the average of each indicator, with 100 representing the highest possible score.
Source: WageIndicator.org & Centre for Labour Research, Labour Rights Index 2024: Indonesia.
Table 7: Number of members in national trade union organisations and their share in total membership in
Indonesia
Organisations Membership Membership share
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
FPBI 27 0.001%
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
Table 9: Indonesia – Legal framework scores for women, business and the law, 2024
Safety Mobility Workplace Pay Mariage Parenthood Childcare Entrepreneurship Assets Pension
75 100 50 75 25 50 75 25 50 75
Source: The World Bank, Women, Business and the Law 2024.
Table 10: List of central education laws and policy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in
Indonesia
TVET legal framework
• Presidential Regulation Number 68 of 2022 concerning Revitalization of Vocational Education and
Vocational Training of 2022.
• National Education Sector Plan of 2020.
• National Climate Change Learning Strategy of 2013.
• National Vocational Training Regulation (Government Regulation No. 31/2006) of 2006.
• Indonesian National Education System Law No. 20 of 2003.
Industry 4.0 Policy Landscape
• Presidential Decree No. 9 Year 2016 on “Revitalizing SMKs to Improve the Quality and
Competitiveness of Indonesian Human Resources.”.
• Policy Road map on Vocational Education 2017–2025.
• National Medium-Term Industrial Development Plan 2015–2019.
• National Industrial Development Master Plan 2015–2035.
• Manpower Regulation No. 36/2016 and the National Apprenticeship Framework
Programme.
• Community BLK Cooperation Plan.
Source: Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Asian Development Bank, Reaping the Benefits of Industry 4.0 Through Skills Development in
Indonesia, January 2021.
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
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Indonesia Labour Market Profile – 2025
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