Too Old at 30? In Indonesia, Early Ageism Is Hurting the Economy
As Indonesia relies on its demographic bonus to boost growth, the early exclusion of thirty-somethings is sparking debate in the press about age-related discrimination and the structural flaws of a strained labor market.
Can you really be considered “too old” at 30? This is the reality facing many job seekers in Indonesia. Job offers setting an age limit, sometimes as low as 25, are commonplace in both the private and public sectors. This practice fuels a growing debate on ageism, the age-related discrimination that, in the archipelago, affects young workers at a pivotal moment in their careers.
This early exclusion is all the more paradoxical given that Indonesia has a large pool of skilled workers. With nearly 70% of the population of working age, the country benefits from a "demographic bonus" that is supposed to boost the growth of this emerging country, which aims to be among the top ten global powers by 2030. But for Deutsche Welle Indonesia ( DW Indonesia ) widespread ageism could undermine this favorable demographic outlook.
The unfinished transformation of the Indonesian labor market – premature deindustrialization, low productivity, stagnant wages – is hampering the creation of skilled jobs, making the market unattractive for experienced workers.
People over 30 are often dismissed, seen as too co
Courrier International
