The high youth unemployment rate is one of Indonesia’s development issues. A World Bank study noted that Indonesia’s youth unemployment rate is the highest in Southeast Asia. The 2019 National Labor Force Survey (Sakernas) by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) found that nearly three-quarters (74.02%) of the unemployed in Indonesia are youth. The Sakernas data also reveals that the number of Indonesian youth who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) is significantly high. About a quarter of all youth in Indonesia had NEET status in 2020, even though Indonesia is predicted to receive a demographic bonus in the next five to ten years. Indonesian youth are expected to maximize these opportunities and become the main engine that can drive and lead the wheels of the economy.

However, Indonesian youth have many advantages in the labor market, one of which is mastery of the internet, which has been proven to play a role in driving economic growth through inclusion, efficiency, and innovation (World Bank, 2016). In addition, Indonesian youth are highly interested in owning a business. In 2020, at least 20% of the working youth were entrepreneurs (BPS, 2020). Thus, it is necessary to map out the use of digital technology by youth entrepreneurs as well as the challenges they encounter to encourage and develop digital technology-based youth entrepreneurship in Indonesia. The SMERU Research Institute will hold a forum to discuss this theme through the Forum Kajian Pembangunan (FKP) seminar. 

Moderator:  Fauzan Kemal M. (Peneliti Junior, SMERU)