Narrow Job Opportunities Drive University Graduates into Informal Sector
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Uncertainty in the job world is pushing more and more university graduates towards self-employment and the gig economy sector.
When formal job opportunities are seen as increasingly narrow, recruitment requirements become more complex, and age limits pose barriers, non-formal paths are considered a more realistic alternative for survival.
In such conditions, some graduates choose to build their own businesses, while others enter the informal sector, which is viewed as more flexible although not always promising stability.
Yanti shares her story: she completed her education in 2015 and worked at several companies, from book publishers to retail firms and car rental businesses. Her career progressed with salary increases and added responsibilities.
However, after deciding to quit work in 2021 to care for her child, she faced a different reality when trying to re-enter the workforce in 2023. Her age, approaching 30, became the main obstacle.
She admits that many job vacancies require a maximum age of 27, even for staff positions.
“Applying for a staff position is limited to a maximum of 27 years old. Applying for a supervisor-level position is hindered by the brevet certificate, which I didn’t think to take a tax course for during my working years,” she said when contacted by Kompas.com on Wednesday (15/4/2026).
In addition, she faced other requirements that she deems irrelevant for back-office positions.
“Another barrier is the ‘good looking’ requirement, which confuses me even more; in 2023, there were quite a few back-office job openings but they demanded that,” she said.
Yanti mentions that she and her husband are part of the sandwich generation, needing to consider the needs of their immediate family as well as their parents.
“My husband’s salary is only enough for our small family and our meagre savings,” she said.
Rising needs, from living costs to children’s education, compel her to seek additional income.
“Moreover, our only child will soon enter primary school, where education costs will start coming one by one,” she stated.