Anindya Bakrie Reveals Reasons Behind Companies' Surge in Intern Hiring
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), Anindya Novyan Bakrie, has revealed the reasons behind the trend of companies increasingly opening internship positions rather than recruiting permanent employees. According to him, this approach is influenced by a combination of efficiency factors, the need for innovation, and labour market conditions.
Anindya stated there are many reasons why companies choose to employ interns rather than permanent staff.
“I think there are many reasons. Certainly varied,” said Anindya during a press conference at his office in Jakarta on Friday (24/4/2026).
One of the main considerations is the need for operational cost efficiency or operational expenditure (OPEX), especially amid ongoing economic pressures.
“The reason is obviously OPEX, Operational Expenditure,” he explained.
In addition, companies also view interns as a source of talent refreshment, particularly in facing technological developments such as digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI).
“But more than that, it is about refreshing talent. Because no matter how good experienced, senior talent is, the value capture and innovation for a technology, for example digitalisation or AI, are different,” he clarified.
On the other hand, the internship scheme is seen as a bridge for new graduates who have not yet been absorbed into the job market, while also helping companies understand labour needs more flexibly.
“And I think it’s very good, because the most vulnerable are those who have graduated from school but don’t get jobs. So if they intern first before working, we also understand each other—what job seekers want and what companies want,” he explained.
He emphasised that the key for the business world today is to maintain financial conditions, particularly cash flow, while still carrying out business model transformations.
“Now it’s about how we respond to all that, knowing it, but maintaining the current situation so we can also transform each business model,” said Anindya.
“This can be said that Indonesia’s balance sheet, both income statement, is under cash flow pressure that must be maintained. So roughly that’s it, if in company analogy,” he continued.
Amid these conditions, Anindya highlighted the government’s role as important in supporting the employment ecosystem, one of which is through the national internship programme that is seen to help the business world as well as job seekers.
“Thank you also to the government for promoting the National Internship Programme. That is very useful,” he concluded.