Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The latest survey conducted by Bank Indonesia (BI) reveals that the Job Availability Index (IKLK) for June 2025 has fallen into a pessimistic zone, with a score below 100. The decline has continued since May 2025.

According to BI, the IKLK stood at 95.7 in May, already reflecting pessimism. In April, the index was still at 106.1.

"In June, the Job Availability Index was recorded at a pessimistic level of 94.1," the consumer survey stated in its release on July 8, 2025.

The survey also breaks down IKLK figures by age and education levels. In June, respondents from all age and education groups viewed job availability pessimistically, with the exception of those holding Bachelor's degrees, who remained optimistic.

Achmad Nur Hidayat, an economist and public policy expert at UPN Veteran Jakarta, said that an IKLK below 100 for two straight months points to an unhealthy labor market. He noted that in various regions, many graduates are working in fields unrelated to their qualifications.

He mentioned cases such as civil engineering graduates becoming motorcycle taxi drivers and holders of master's degrees in economics working as restaurant waiters.

"This indicates an acute labor misallocation. When highly skilled labor fails to find jobs that match their expertise," he said in a statement issued on Friday, July 11, 2025.

Achmad added that such conditions harm national productivity. "In the long run, an economic structure with skills mismatch will reduce potential growth, trapping Indonesia in a permanent middle-income trap," he said.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2027265/bi-survey-shows-indonesians-losing-confidence-in-job-opportunitie