You’re 25, Scrolling TikTok

Post author:Zsolt Zsemba
Post published:April 24, 2025
Post category:blog,

Why Young Indonesians Feel Lost and How to Break Free

You’re 25, scrolling TikTok, and it hits you: life feels like a dead end.

On my TikTok @zsoltzsemba, I hear it daily—young Indonesians, 18-35, saying they’re lost, like the country’s left them behind. No future, no support, just pressure to settle. But Indonesia’s got more to offer than you think. With a booming economy and untapped opportunities, you can carve your own path. Here’s why so many feel stuck and how you can start building a future that fits your ambitions.

1. Feeling Like Indonesia Offers No Future

Many of you tell me Indonesia feels like it’s failing you. Jobs are scarce for graduates, and the system seems rigged for the connected. On my TikTok, comments like “No degree, no hope” or “I’m stuck in my village” are common. Indonesia’s unemployment is low at 4.91% (BPS, 2024), but many jobs—street vendors, Grab drivers—pay little (3-5 million IDR/month) and feel like traps. Young women especially want security, not their parents’ struggles in warungs or farms. Men? They’ll take any gig, but it’s rarely enough to build a life.

Stat: 40% of Indonesian youth want jobs that don’t exist locally (ILO, 2023).
Fix: Look into digital skills. Free Google Career Certificates can lead to remote work paying 5-10 million IDR/month.

2. Ambition Clashes with Old Paths

The world’s changed, but expectations haven’t. Educated women don’t want to run a small warung or work rice fields like their moms—they dream of careers in tech or creative industries. Men, too, want more than manual labor. On TikTok, I see your frustration: “I studied engineering, but I’m jobless.” Ambition is high, but opportunities feel out of reach, leaving you let down. Indonesia’s economy is growing (5% GDP yearly), yet urban jobs favor the elite, and rural areas lack modern roles.

Opportunity: E-commerce is booming. Start a Shopee store with 500,000 IDR capital—some sellers earn 10 million IDR/month.
Tip: Check JobStreet for entry-level roles in Jakarta or Surabaya, starting at 6 million IDR/month.

3. Giving Up Too Soon, No Support in Sight

You feel helpless, like an elephant tied by a rope—trained to think you can’t break free. My TikTok DMs are full of stories: young people giving up after a few rejections, with no government programs or mentors to guide them. Indonesia lacks robust youth support compared to countries like Singapore. You come to me for advice, and I get it—feeling stuck sucks. But giving up isn’t the answer. Small actions, like networking or learning a trade, can shift everything.

Stat: Only 15% of Indonesian youth access vocational training (World Bank, 2023).
Action: Join local komunitas on Instagram or WhatsApp for free workshops. Bali’s eco-tourism groups often mentor newbies.

Build Your Future in Indonesia

Indonesia isn’t perfect, but it’s bursting with potential. You don’t have to settle for your parents’ path or feel trapped by a system that seems unfair. Partner with older entrepreneurs—think warung owners or local craftsmen—to start businesses like eco-cafes or online stores. Indonesia’s growth is your chance to shine. Want more tips to kickstart your journey? Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok

@zsoltzsemba for real advice and ideas. DM me your plans—I’m rooting for you!

Sources: BPS Indonesia (2024), ILO (2023), World Bank (2023), web searches on Indonesian youth trends, your provided answers.

Zsolt Zsemba

Zsolt Zsemba has worn many different hats. He has been an entrepreneur, and businessman for over 30 years. Living abroad has given him many amazing experiences in life and also sparked his imagination for writing. After moving to Canada from Hungary at the age of 10 and working in a family business for a large part of his life. The switch from manufacturing to writing came surprisingly easily for him. His passion for writing began at age 12, mostly writing poetry and short stories. In 1999, the chance came to write scripts. Zsolt took some time off from his family business to write in Jakarta Indonesia for MD Entertainment. Having written dozens of soap operas and made for TV movies, in 2003 Zsolt returned to the family business once more. In 2018, he had the chance to head back to Asia once again. He took on the challenge to be the COO for MD Pictures and get back into the entertainment business. The entertainment business opened up the desire to write once more and the words began to flow onto the pages again. He decided to rewrite a book he began years ago. Organ House was reborn and is a fiction suspense novel while Scars is a young adult drama focused on life’s challenges. After the first two books, his desire to write not only became more challenging but enjoyable as well. After having several books completed he was convinced to publish them for your enjoyment. Zsolt does not tend to stay in one specific genre but tends to lean towards strong female leads and horror. Though he also has a few human interest books, he tends to write about whatever brews in his brain for a while.