Out of an estimated population of 278,609,967 in April 2022, about 60% of Indonesians live on聽the island of Java. As a matter of fact, there are some 147.7 million people living in Java, of聽which more than 11 million reside and working in the capital Jakarta. As such, it is one of the聽most dynamic and prosperous regions in the country, attracting thousands of foreign聽professionals every year. If you are planning to follow in the footsteps of these expatriates, find聽out about the local economy and the Javanese job market beforehand to determine if your聽profile fits the requirements.
The Javanese economy
Without a doubt, Java is the main economic center of Indonesia. Its reputation is consistently聽reinforced by the figures published by Badan Pusat Statistik. According to them, Java accounts聽for about 58% of the Indonesian national economy. Jakarta and Surabaya, two cities located on聽the island of Java, together account for no less than 21% of the economic output of the entire聽archipelago, which includes 17,000 islands.
As the economic heart of Indonesia, the island thrives in several fields that include trade,聽services, commerce, textiles, industry, etc., while depending on other islands for natural聽resources (oil, gas, gold, etc.). Yogyakarta is famous for its teak furniture and handicrafts, while聽Bandung is considered a textile capital. The tourism sector is also an important contributor to聽the island's economy, considering that Java is exceptionally rich in history, culture and art.聽According to the government, the island of Java, and in particular the western region, will play a聽key role in the national economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. To learn more about the聽changes related to the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia, read our article on the subject.
In terms of finding jobs in Java, note that the industry is particularly thriving not only in聽Bandung on the northern coast but in Karawang, Tangerang, Cilegon, Gresik, Sidoarjo and聽Bekasi as well. In addition, many job opportunities are available in Surabaya, Jakarta, Semarang,聽etc.
Cirebon and Yogyakarta, on the other hand, are more focused on tourism, art and culture, while聽Surakarta's economic activities revolve mainly around the production of teak furniture and聽handicrafts.
How to find a job in Java?
If the company you are currently working for has a branch office in Indonesia, you can request a聽transfer. This will greatly facilitate your work visa and residency procedures. In addition, Java is聽home to subsidiaries of many international companies such as Intel Corporation, Hyatt, Axa,聽Vodafone UK, etc. Find out more about these companies and send them an unsolicited聽application.
You can also check job offers on the Internet and participate in online forums dedicated to聽Indonesia. Locals or expatriates already in Indonesia will be happy to answer your questions.
Moreover, be aware that networking and word of mouth will also be useful tools in your job聽quest in Java.
Useful links:
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
