Nearly 10 Million Gen Z Unemployed, Why?

In Indonesia, 22.25% of the 44.47 million Gen Z youth aged 15-24 are still not working.

Indonesians line up to register at a jobs fair in Sidoarjo, East Java Source: AFP / JUNI KRISWANTO/AFP via Getty Images

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) revealed that almost 10 million of Indonesia's Generation Z residents aged 15-24 are unemployed or without activities (not in employment, education, and training/NEET).

This unemployment is dominated by SMK graduates.

JAKARTA, INDONESIA: Indonesian job seekers look at the list of job vacancies at Job Fair in Jakarta Source: AFP / JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images

According to Kemnaker - Ministry of Employment, the cause is not due to “meager” but due to the mismatch between labor market demand and education.

Another factor causing high unemployment is the lack of funds or capital so that they are unable to enter the education at a higher level, including the training necessary.

So is Gen Z going to be the next generation of gold or the burden of the country?

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