Indonesia is preparing for a demographic dividend to boost human capital development

Jakarta, VIVA – Indonesia is poised to maximise its demographic dividend, which is expected to continue through 2030, by focusing on human capital development in key sectors such as education, health and employment. Over the past decade, the government has been actively working to create a globally competitive workforce.

Nunung Nuryartono, deputy director for social security improvement at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (PMK Kemenko), highlighted the government’s comprehensive approach.

“Human capital development cannot be done in a single phase. It starts from the prenatal stage by reducing stunting, continues until school age and continues into old age,” he said during a debate at the Merdeka Barat 9 Forum (MBF9) on Tuesday, September 17.

In the health sector, combating stunting remains a top priority and the government aims to reduce it to 20% to meet WHO standards. BPJS Health, Indonesia’s national health insurance, now covers 98.6% of the population and provides widespread access to healthcare even in remote areas.

“The government continues to strengthen health services, including in 3T (border, ultraperipheral and underserved) areas, through initiatives such as health insurance and increased access to specialist doctors,” Nuryartono said.

Education is also a key area, with initiatives such as the Merdeka Campus 2020 programme launched to bridge the skills gap between graduates and the workforce.

“We will not only improve the quality of education, but also ensure that every Indonesian child receives a meaningful and relevant education,” said Suharti, Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Dante Saxono Harbuono highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated health reforms. “The pandemic has forced us to rapidly improve our health infrastructure and services,” he said.

One of the important achievements is Indonesia’s universal health coverage (UHC) under the National Health Insurance (JKN) which is in line with WHO standards.

These integrated efforts in health and education are key to building Indonesia’s future workforce and ensuring the country makes the most of its demographic dividend.