Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo recently talked about the ‘demographic dividend’ in an Instagram post, pointing out the high numbers of young Indonesians should not be viewed as a burden on the country but a strength, powering the motor of the Indonesian economy.
The demographic dividend refers to the dominance of young working-age people within the population who, with their purchasing power, can generate wider economic growth.
Reaping the potential of this dividend requires improving human capital - the skills, health and education of the young. Jokowi’s post included an illustration of young Indonesians working on laptops, in labs, in fashion and in various other industries.
