160,000 State Civil Servants to Retire: Will 2026 Civil Service Recruitment Be Held?

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (KemenPAN-RB) has noted that approximately 160,000 state civil servants (ASN) will retire in 2025. This situation signals potential opportunities for recruitment and selection of civil service candidates (CPNS) in 2026.

The Deputy for Human Resources at KemenPAN-RB, Aba Subagja, stated that the need for additional state civil servants continues annually, as approximately 160,000 ASN retire each year.

However, plans for civil service recruitment to fill positions left vacant by retiring ASN are also contingent on budget availability from the Ministry of Finance.

“Looking at current composition, we have approximately 6.5 million ASN, from which we actually have excess stock of ASN in 2024, because our stock stands at 1.2 million. Those who applied previously numbered roughly 5 million,” he said.

Consequently, the ministry will conduct mapping to identify which positions require additional ASN. Subagja assured that the number of civil servants retiring will not reduce public services.

The government’s thinking is how to improve the quality of public services with the current ASN workforce.

“These positions are essentially aimed at improving our public services and government performance so that the public feels well-served,” he stated.

Currently, approximately 70% of ASN are concentrated in regions, whilst only around 20% are in the central government. However, going forward, Subagja said the government wants this proportion to be more balanced. The government’s primary focus on ASN is currently to meet teacher shortages in schools and healthcare needs, particularly health workers.