Creative economy development can reduce youth unemployment: Minister

Surabaya, East Java – Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya noted that creative economy development can potentially become a solution to reduce Indonesia’s unemployment rate, especially among young people, who make up the majority of job seekers.Speaking at the 2026 East Java Media Summit here on Thursday, he highlighted that the vast majority of unemployment is concentrated in the younger demographic. Of the 7.47 million unemployed people in Indonesia, approximately 82.6 percent are Gen Z and Millennials.

“Gen Z and Millennials have such a strong desire to work in the creative industry, and roughly 82.6 percent of the unemployed come from that same age group. This suggests the creative industry could truly be a solution to reducing unemployment,” he said.

The minister emphasized that young people’s strong interest in the sector serves as vital momentum to boost job absorption, pointing out that its characteristics align well with their career preferences.

Gen Z and Millennials, he explained, tend to seek roles that align with their passions, offer flexible working hours, and provide higher earning potential than conventional jobs.

“While it might have been hard to imagine in the past, amid the current digital era, earning a higher income through the creative economy sector is entirely feasible,” he said.

Currently, the workforce in the sector has reached around 27.4 million people, with Gen Z and Millennials accounting for 63 percent. Based on gender, women make up 58 percent of the total.

“This shows that the creative economy sector is highly inclusive, as the majority of its workforce consists of young people and includes a significant number of women,” Harsya added.

Given its potential, the minister continues to push for strengthening the creative economy ecosystem by improving human resource competency, providing business mentorship, expanding access to financing, and leveraging digital technology to help more young people secure jobs in the sector.