43% of Indonesians Have Side Jobs but Remain Financially Vulnerable
The phenomenon of side jobs or side hustles is increasingly becoming a trend in Indonesia, in line with rising living needs and economic pressures. A recent study by Prudential plc shows that 43% of respondents in Indonesia have additional jobs outside their main employment. However, this increase in income has not yet been fully accompanied by strong financial resilience.
In the study involving more than 7,000 respondents in Asia, only 45% feel prepared to face unexpected expenses or have sufficient savings for the future. Even, only 18% assess that they have adequate access to financial solutions.
In Indonesia, family factors remain the primary consideration in financial management. As many as 82% of respondents place family as a priority, while only 35% state they have no obligation to provide financial support to others. This condition aligns with the financial literacy rate that still needs strengthening. Based on data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the public’s financial literacy rate is around 66%.
On the other hand, the public is beginning to show better financial habits. As many as 69% of respondents admit to saving regularly every month, and 63% have clear financial goals. However, these steps are deemed insufficient without long-term planning and protection against risks.
Prudential Indonesia encourages the public not only to focus on increasing income but also to strengthen the foundation of financial health. One simple approach that can be applied is allocation-based financial management, such as the 40-30-20-10 rule, which divides expenses for needs, debt, savings/investment, and social.
As an illustration, an individual with a monthly income of Rp6.5 million can allocate around Rp2.6 million for daily needs, Rp1.95 million for debt obligations, Rp1.3 million for savings and protection, and Rp650,000 for social needs.
Chief Customer & Marketing Officer of Prudential Indonesia, Karin Zulkarnaen, emphasises that the increasing life expectancy of the public makes the need for sustainable financial health increasingly important.
“Access to financial solutions and long-term planning become the key so that the public has confidence in managing finances at every stage of life,” said Karin in an official statement.
Throughout 2025, Prudential Indonesia has reached more than 390,000 participants through various financial literacy programmes targeting various groups, from students to MSME actors. These findings indicate that amid the trend of increasing income through side hustles, the main challenge lies in how the public builds sustainable financial resilience.