Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Thousands of job seekers crowded the Jakarta International Velodrome this week as the city government staged Jobfest 2025, one of Indonesia's largest employment fairs, featuring 2,000 openings across multiple industries.
The two-day event, held August 19-20, brought together 37 companies, including domestic firms and overseas recruiters. The Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP3MI) drew long lines of applicants eager for placements in South Korea, while private employers promoted training scholarships linked to jobs in Europe, Japan, and the Middle East.
The crowd was dominated by young graduates and vocational school students, many dressed in formal attire or school uniforms. "We're here to scan for openings that offer better pay and career growth," said Tri, a 24-year-old visitor. Olive, a first-time attendee, said she hoped the fair would open doors in a challenging job market. "It's tough finding a decent job without connections. But I'm staying optimistic – at least by coming here, I'm making an effort," she said.
Admission was free, with registration available online or on-site. Applications were accepted until the fair's close at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
The event is part of the Jakarta government's broader Jobfest 2025 program to tackle unemployment, particularly among youth. Governor Pramono Anung said the city has held 13 job fairs this year, leading to 1,450 successful hires, with eight more fairs planned in the months ahead.
The national open unemployment rate eased to 4.76 percent in February 2025 from 4.91 percent six months earlier, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). Yet male unemployment in urban areas rose to 6.06 percent from 5.87 percent, while the rate for women declined over the same period.