National productivity will remain stagnant if a large portion of the\nyoung workforce remains trapped in low-wage, low-productivity jobs.\nAccording to the 2025 Inter-Census Population Survey (SUPAS), Generation\nZ accounts for 24.93 per cent of Indonesia\u2019s total population,\nMillennials represent 24.34 per cent, and the post-Generation Z cohort\nmakes up 19.65 per cent. This means that roughly 69 per cent of the\nIndonesian population belongs to the three youngest generations, a\ndemographic composition unprecedented in Indonesia\u2019s modern history.<\/p>\n
While many refer to this condition as a demographic bonus, Indonesia\nis actually facing something more specific and decisive: a \u2018generational\nbonus\u2019. This is not merely an abundance of the working-age population,\nbut the dominance of a generation raised in the era of the digital\neconomy, automation, and artificial intelligence. The critical question\nis no longer whether Indonesia has enough labour to drive economic\ngrowth, but whether it can transform this youthful dominance into\nproductivity, innovation, and prosperity. History shows that a\ngenerational bonus can be a leap towards progress, but it can also\nbecome a source of instability if mismanaged.<\/p>\n
In population economics literature, the demographic dividend refers\nto the economic growth opportunity that arises when the proportion of\nthe working-age population is larger than the non-working-age\npopulation. However, experts have long warned that this opportunity does\nnot manifest automatically. David Bloom, a Harvard University economist\nwho has extensively researched the demographic dividend, states that\nchanges in age structure are merely an opportunity. The impact on\neconomic growth depends heavily on investments in education, health, job\ncreation, and the quality of institutions.<\/p>\n
The experiences of various nations demonstrate this clearly. South\nKorea, Singapore, and China successfully utilised their demographic\ndividends through massive investments in education and\nindustrialisation. Conversely, several developing nations failed to\nmaximise benefits because they were unable to provide sufficient\nemployment for their young workforce. This lesson is highly relevant for\nIndonesia. While the large number of young people is a valuable\ndevelopmental asset, this capital will yield nothing without the right\nstrategy.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/time-to-transform-the-younger-generation-into-a-strategic-national-asset-1780811818", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }