Preliminary View of Indonesia's Employment Problem and Some Options for Solving It

摘要

The employment situation in Indonesia is assessed in the paper, which contends that an 'employment problem' in a country is determined by the juxtaposition of population factors against a myriad of others including cultivable land, natural resources, physical and human capital, economic climate, and institutional structure. The paper sketches a cross-section of the employment picture as of 1980 and examines some of the more pertinent trends of the years 1971-80. The nature and shape of what is generally accepted as an employment problem in Indonesia are examined, and the question of whether the problem will worsen is addressed based on recent projections of labor supply and labor demand. Options for improving employment prospects in Indonesia are considered in a final section, which outlines the core elements for an employment generation strategy and indicates necessary policy redirections.