Over 236,000 Overseas Job Vacancies Still Open for Indonesian Workers

The Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI)/Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Board (BP2MI), Mukhtarudin, has stated that job opportunities abroad remain wide open for Indonesian citizens. BP2MI records show there are currently around 315,000 job opportunities overseas, and not all have been filled. To date, only about 78,996 vacancies, or 25 per cent of the positions, have been filled by Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI). This leaves 75 per cent of the vacancies, or around 236,000 positions, still unfilled. “So this is what needs to be prepared. On one side, we are experiencing a demographic bonus, but on the other side, several other countries are experiencing an aging population, thus opening up space for overseas job opportunities for us to fill competently,” he stated during a Working Meeting Agenda of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives with the Minister of P2MI/BP2MI on Tuesday. This momentum can be utilised by Indonesia amidst the demographic bonus, with its peak priority around 2035. Moreover, in 2025, Indonesia’s productive-age population is estimated to reach 183 million people, while in 2045 it is projected to increase to around 207.99 million people. “This is a fairly large figure, and of course the government will prepare these figures with all relevant ministries to address the problems or issues of the demographic bonus,” he explained. The demographic bonus will become a source of strength as well as an engine for national development and progress if prepared as well as possible. Conversely, if not managed properly, the large productive-age population could potentially become a burden or a problem for the country. Therefore, the Ministry of P2MI/BP2MI has received direction from President Prabowo Subianto not only to focus on increasing the placement of PMIs. More than that, the Ministry must also ensure that protection for PMIs is truly carried out maximally from before they work, during the placement period, until after the migrant workers return to Indonesia. In addition to the protection aspect, the government is also changing the orientation of PMI placement. The government is no longer only sending low-skilled workers but is also encouraging placement in medium-skill and high-skill sectors that offer better added value and welfare. According to Mukhtarudin, this condition opens up great opportunities for Indonesia to fill labour shortages in various countries. However, these opportunities can only be utilised if prospective workers have competencies that match the needs of the international job market. To that end, the Ministry of P2MI/BP2MI is building a higher-quality migrant worker placement ecosystem, including through vocational competency improvement programmes and SMK Go Global. These efforts are expected to have an impact on increasing the number of Indonesian workers absorbed in the global market while optimising the demographic bonus as a driver of national economic growth.