Who Dominates Indonesia's Creative Economy Workforce?
Who Dominates Indonesia’s Creative Economy Workforce?
Reporter
September 26, 2026 | 07:08 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya said 27.40 million people work in the creative economy sector. This number surpasses the 25.55 million worker target set in the National Medium-Term Development Plan of 2025.
Riefky said that out of the total workforce in the creative economy sector, 63 percent are from Generation Z (Gen Z), born between 1997 and 2012, and Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996.
“It has reached 63 percent, and 58 percent of them are women,” he said during his speech at the opening of the Circuit Global Championship Indonesia 2026 at the Ministry of Manpower in Jakarta on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
An international exhibition and competition for cellphone technicians and gadget industry enthusiasts took place at the Ministry of Manpower in Jakarta on September 26-27, 2026.
Riefky emphasized that technological reliability forms an important foundation of the creative economy ecosystem. The Ministry of Creative Economy currently oversees 17 sub-sectors, including film, animation, publishing, photography, content creation, gaming, app development, and culinary arts. He mentioned that users will not be able to access the latest digital creations if their devices are not functioning properly.
Therefore, he said, the technicians attending the Circuit Global Championship Indonesia play a significant role. “CGC is not just a space for competition, but a space for learning, sharing knowledge, building networks, and introducing talents to the industry,” he said.
In addition to the workforce, Riefky mentioned that the investment value in the creative economy sector has reached Rp183.01 trillion. This figure exceeds the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) target of Rp123.85-136.28 trillion for 2025. This amount is equivalent to 9.48 percent of the total national investment realization. Riefky stated that the investment target in the creative economy sector for RPJMN 2026 is set at Rp131-146.4 trillion.
Furthermore, Riefky said the export value of the creative economy reached US$31.94 billion in 2025. According to him, this amount equaled 12 percent of the total non-oil and gas exports that year. “The highest in the last five years,” he said.
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