Fintech Becomes a Target for Gen Z: Skills Required and Career Prospects
The rapid advancement of digital technology has positioned financial technology (fintech) as one of the most attractive sectors for the younger generation. With the rising use of e-wallets, mobile banking, and other digital financial services, interest among prospective students in fintech-related disciplines continues to grow.
Fintech is now recognised not only as an industry with broad job prospects but also as one offering promising career opportunities. However, to become a professional in this field, students must possess more than just financial knowledge; they must also master technology and data analysis.
Ibnu Alfaroby, Head of Campus at Cyber University (Universitas Siber Indonesia), explained that fintech is a fusion of information technology and financial systems that evolves alongside the needs of the digital industry. “Fintech is not merely about digital transactions or payment applications. It involves a combination of technology, finance, data analysis, and cybersecurity that must be understood comprehensively,” Ibnu stated on Wednesday (3/6/2026).
According to him, students wishing to build a career in the fintech sector need to equip themselves with technical skills relevant to industrial developments. These skills serve as the primary capital for facing an increasingly competitive labour market. “Students need to understand programming fundamentals, financial and banking systems, data analytics, cybersecurity, and the application of artificial intelligence in financial services. All these competencies are interconnected within the modern fintech ecosystem,” he added.
In their learning process, fintech students typically study programming languages such as Python and Java, understand financial transaction systems, process big data, and study digital data protection systems. Additionally, artificial intelligence technology is increasingly being implemented to support credit analysis, fraud detection, and chatbot-based customer service.
Gen Z’s interest in fintech is also driven by changing digital lifestyles. The high usage of cashless payments, online shopping, digital investment, and the consumption of financial education content on social media has brought this generation closer to the world of financial technology.
Ibnu believes this situation presents a massive opportunity for the younger generation to move beyond being mere users of fintech services and instead become active participants in the industry. “Today’s youth have a very high level of familiarity with digital technology. The challenge is how to transform that interest into the competencies truly required by the industry,” said Ibnu.
As the fintech industry grows, the demand for labour in this field continues to rise. Highly sought-after positions include Data Analysts, Software Engineers, Fintech Product Managers, and Cybersecurity Specialists.
Nevertheless, Ibnu cautioned that high income prospects do not come solely from choosing a specific major. He noted that the quality of skills and practical experience remain the primary factors in building a career. “Many people view fintech as a high-salary field. However, what is most decisive is not the name of the major, but the abilities possessed by graduates when entering the workforce,” he said.
Consequently, he believes that the choice of university is a crucial factor in preparing human resources capable of competing in the fintech industry. Universities with up-to-date curricula, practice-based learning, and industry connections are deemed capable of providing more relevant learning experiences.
Cyber University, for instance, offers its flagship Company Learning Program (CLP) 3+1, featuring a scheme of three years of study followed by one year of internship. This program integrates information technology and digital finance learning through a practical approach and industry case studies.
“Fintech is a very rapidly evolving field. Therefore, students need a learning ecosystem that supports them so they do not only understand theory but also possess real-world experience that meets industry needs,” said Ibnu.
Moving forward, the demand for digital talent in the financial sector is expected to continue increasing alongside the digital transformation occurring across various sectors. This situation provides an opportunity for the younger generation to prepare themselves early through relevant education and the mastery of skills that align with technological advancements.