The Reasons Behind the Popularity of Javanese Labourers in the Construction Industry
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Construction workers, commonly known as builders or labourers from the island of Java, have long been widely recognised for their ability to work on various projects, ranging from small-scale to national-scale.
The Chairman of the Indonesian Construction Services Development Agency (LPJK), Taufik Widjoyono, said that construction workers from Java have long dominated the construction sector in various regions of Indonesia.
“In my personal opinion, construction workers from Java are indeed the majority. Firstly, this is because they have the largest population,” said Taufik to Kompas.com, quoted on Saturday (16/05/2026).
During the Dutch colonial period, workers from Java were also said to have been involved in the construction of various important infrastructure, such as the Anyer-Panarukan Post Road, the Bogor Palace, the Independence Palace, and public facilities such as markets, schools, and hospitals.
However, Taufik acknowledged that more comprehensive and data-based research is needed to confirm the factors that influence this dominance.
According to Taufik, the involvement of Javanese people in the construction industry has also developed from generation to generation and is influenced by the social environment.
“They are influenced by their environment. Just like the barber community, which usually comes from Garut. This is formed from a community of people,” he said.
For example, Yogyakarta is known for having skilled workers in the field of measurement and carving, while Wonosobo and Wonogiri are known for their stonemasons. Meanwhile, Sumedang and the East Priangan region are known for having skilled workers in the installation of ceramics.
“Construction workers cannot be separated from the local social and cultural system,” Taufik continued.
In addition to cultural and community factors, the need for construction workers has also developed along with the development that took place during the colonial period.
To meet this need, the Dutch government established the first civil engineering education institution in Indonesia, namely the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 1938.
“So it is not only due to cultural factors, but also because formal technical education began in Java,” said Taufik.
According to him, the existence of formal education has made the skills of construction workers from Java develop more broadly.
Taufik also believes that the social and economic conditions of the Javanese people during the colonial period, the independence war, and the Old Order era also helped shape the work ethic of the people.
This pressure, Taufik said, gave rise to a workforce that is diligent, agile, and has versatile skills. They are used to working under a strict social system with predetermined work standards.
KOMPAS.com is committed to providing clear, trustworthy, and balanced facts. Support the sustainability of clear journalism and enjoy comfortable reading without advertisements through Membership. Join KOMPAS.com Plus now.