Despite the sluggish global economy, Indonesia is expected to grow at 6.2% in 2013. Some experts say if it can sustain the robust growth rate, Indonesia could become one of the world’s leading economies by 2030.
Thousands of job seekers stand in line at a job fair in Jakarta in September 2012. A similar event held June 10th-13th in Pekanbaru offered more than 9,000 openings. [Ismoyo/AFP]
But the Southeast Asian giant is facing a critical shortage of skilled workers – a factor that could prevent many citizens from taking advantage of the boom times ahead.
Only 8% of Indonesians are college graduates, according to Co-ordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, quoted by Jaring News.
“We can predict that in 2040 we will only reach a 20% level of college graduates,” Hatta told Khabar Southeast Asia.
He warned that with the advent of the ASEAN Economic Community – a plan to transform the region into a single market and production base by 2015 – many Indonesians will be left behind if they do not prepare themselves with the appropriate knowledge and job skills.
“We need to encourage our children to read more and study more,” he said.
Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor
via Lack of skilled workers a challenge for Indonesia – khabarsoutheastasia.com.
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