Job Seekers Attend Cikarang Job Fair, Crowded and Some Faint

The sky at that time was bright, even very hot. But it did not stop the sea of people moving towards one point, the job fair. Thousands of feet marching, one goal, looking for work to live a better life. There was no laughter, only faces full of hope. Approximately 25 thousand applicants crowded the place. The number of vacancies available? Only 3 thousand.

Not a rare sight. This is a reflection of the reality of Indonesia today, when unemployment is still high, mass layoffs continue to occur, and the promise of job creation is almost just a false hope. A phenomenon like this is not just a matter of statistics. It's a matter of fate. A matter of stomach. A matter of self-esteem. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Manpower, until May 2025, more than 26,000 workers have been laid off. The industrial, trade, and digital startup sectors have also been affected. Some have even been forced to close down due to declining purchasing power. E-commerce giants such as Shopee, Tokopedia, and several other technology unicorns have carried out repeated layoffs in the last two years.

Now, when many have lost their jobs, thousands more will automatically line up for just one opportunity. This is not just a number. This is an emergency sign, that the system is not running as promised. So where is that hope?

In the past, the government would create 19 million jobs, including 5 million "green jobs" which were said to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. But the achievement? Until now there has been no clarity. BPS data actually shows that the number of unemployed is still at 7.28 million people as of February 2025. And the trend continues to rise. Let alone adding jobs, maintaining the existing ones is difficult.

Meanwhile, young people continue to graduate every year. Hundreds of thousands from state and private universities. Graduates of vocational schools, high schools, to undergraduate degrees. But what is available? Vacancies for shopkeepers, sales, freelance marketing without a fixed salary. Or even become a sudden "dropshipper". It doesn't matter, the important thing is to be able to make ends meet. And this reality is what slaps the hopes of parents hard, who until now consider college to be a ticket to moving up a class. Today, a diploma does not guarantee anything, surprisingly there are still those who confiscate it. Even most graduates only work outside their field of study. Because the system does not provide space according to potential.

For those who already have jobs, don't be relieved yet. This situation also speaks to all of us. Because in conditions like this, work positions are easier to replace. Salaries stagnate, working hours increase, and loyalty is not always rewarded fairly. Silently, everyone feels insecure.

So, what can be done? First, let's stop waiting for the state. The system is too complex to rely on solutions from above. Our time is running out if we just complain and hope for help. It's time for the people to create their own jobs, even though they are small, but real.

Examples can be taken from countries like Vietnam and the Philippines, where MSMEs are the largest absorbers of labor. In the Philippines, 63% of the total workers are absorbed by small businesses. In Vietnam, the government has made it easier to access exports, credit, and digital training so that young people can build businesses even from villages.

Indonesia can certainly imitate, but with our own version. We have agriculture, culinary, crafts, digital content, and a creative economy that can be optimized.

The problem is, many are still trapped in the mindset that "office work is the only success." In fact, today, independent business is a form of courage to face reality. Of course it is not easy. But it is better to take a difficult path that can be arranged by yourself, rather than continuing to queue at a door locked by the system.

The government still needs to be criticized. The promise of 19 million jobs must be guarded. But make no mistake, big changes actually start from the bottom level. This is where the importance of the entrepreneurial ecosystem lies. Collaboration between the community, educators, business mentors, and technology is needed. Like YouTube, TikTok, and marketplaces can be used to build personal brands and sales. Simple, but the results can be better than just hoping to be called for an interview.

For office workers who are still holding on, don't be comfortable yet. This is the time to prepare yourself to face the rapidly changing world of work. Improve your skills, learn new things, and start building other sources of income. Don't let salary be your only support. And for students? Campus is not a place to look for grades, but a place to learn to live. Don't just chase your GPA. Learn to make business proposals, present ideas, or at least start making a portfolio.

Job fairs with 25,000 applicants will only continue to happen if everyone waits for one door to be opened. Even though the key can be made by yourself. Not everyone has to be a big entrepreneur. But at least start from something small, from what can be done, from what we master.

If today you feel left out of the system, don't blame yourself. But don't be silent either. Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett's right hand man once said, "One way to get rich is to not care too much about what other people do." That also applies to work. Focus on your own steps. Because the world is too small for those who can only wait.

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