When Gen Z Is Forced to Adapt to the Bureaucratic Red Tape

Generation Z, or Gen Z, is accustomed to fast-paced, practical living. When they enter the workforce, long bureaucratic rules force them to adapt. For example, Rafif Qardhawi’s first foray into the working environment. Rafif regards his first experiences in the bureaucratic world as a process of adjusting to a workplace different from Gen Z’s customary habits. As a generation that grew up amid technological developments and a fast-paced rhythm, Rafif began to understand that the government’s working system has more structured flows and responsibilities. As a Civil Servant (ASN) in the Subgroup of Labour, Migration, and Energy within the Bureau of Economy and Finance of the Provincial Secretariat of DKI Jakarta, Rafif sees that bureaucratic workflows are longer and more structured than the work environment Gen Z has grown familiar with. Rafif said Gen Z usually wants fast and practical, while bureaucracy demands processes that are systematic and in accordance with rules. Not only Rafif, a similar experience is felt by Sabrina Rahmadhanty Maghfira, a Civil Servant in the Tourism and Creative Economy Group of the Provincial Secretariat of DKI Jakarta. When she first worked in a government environment, she felt the need to adjust to the tempo of bureaucratic work that differed from her generation’s working culture. Sabrina opines that Gen Z tends to want a fast, flexible, and efficient working system, while bureaucracy has more structured workflows. Rafif and Sabrina are part of a small Gen Z cohort entering the ranks of the Civil Service (ASN). According to the Journal of Civil Service of the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) edition November 2025, Gen Z now accounts for around 8.6 percent of the national ASN total. Meanwhile, Indonesian bureaucracy is still dominated by Generation Y at 56 percent and Generation X at 35 percent. This data shows bureaucratic working culture remains heavily influenced by previous generations. On the other hand, the government continues to push digital transformation across public institutions. This condition makes Gen Z, known for being close to technology and digital culture, increasingly important in the government environment. This contrast is seen when compared to Jakarta’s population composition. Based on the 2025 Inter-Census Population Survey (SUPAS) by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Gen Z accounts for 24.12 percent of Jakarta’s population, while Millennials account for 24.82 percent. Although they dominate the productive-age population, their representation in the bureaucracy remains relatively low. Youth interest in becoming Civil Servants is also changing. BKN notes that 1,967 CPNS for the 2024 intake chose to resign. The primary reasons were placements far from domicile and considerations about income.