Earning gig bucks: The Gojek-ification of Indonesia's workforce

Between 2020 and 2030, the size of Indonesia’s workforce will hit its peak. With sluggish growth in the formal sector, young workers are pushed towards gig-work and self-employment. But that’s not enough to give the economy a boost

Indonesia is entering its demographic bonus decade with many young people and fewer dependents

That spells opportunity, but formal-sector jobs are stagnant. There’s also a skills mismatch between what the industry needs and what graduates offer

Young Indonesians are increasingly relying on gig-work and entrepreneurship to secure their future

Companies like Gojek give clues about what new work environments might look like, but dependency on such platforms comes with downsides

More young Indonesians are entering the job market than ever before. In this decade, 70% of Indonesia’s 267 million people will be of working age (15-64 years old). What happens when around 187 million people seek meaningful work and good incomes, but have a hard time finding either in the traditional job market? In Indonesia, one increasingly popular option is to become a driver for the on-demand transportation network Gojek. The app offers ride-hailing on motorcycles and cars.

People who end up driving for Gojek full-time come from a variety of backgrounds.

Budi*, for example, was a car parts salesperson, but gave up the job three years ago because it required frequent out-of-town travel.

AUTHOR

Nadine Freischlad

Nadine is based in Jakarta. She likes stories that capture the impact of digital transformation in Indonesia, with a special fondness for "clicks and bricks" businesses and platform economics. Previous stints with Tech In Asia, KrASIA, bylines in VICE, SCMP, CNN.

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