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Indonesia remains a top destination for foreign workers across various sectors.

According to data from the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) and the Ministry of Manpower, the number of foreign workers in Indonesia has seen significant growth in recent years, with China contributing the largest share.

Statistics Indonesia data shows fluctuations in the number of foreign workers from 2019 to 2024. In 2019, there were 155,248 foreign workers in Indonesia, but this number dropped to 129,109 in 2020.

The sharpest decline occurred in 2021, with only 102,902 workers, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on international mobility.

As the pandemic subsided, foreign worker numbers rebounded, reaching 133,327 in 2022 and soaring to 168,048 in 2023. This rise aligns with Indonesia’s economic recovery and increasing foreign investment.

In 2024, Ministry of Manpower reported that 133,979 foreign workers had entered Indonesia between January and September alone.

The following provides data on the highest number of foreign workers in Indonesia and the industrial sectors that employed the most foreign workers in 2023 and 2024.

China: The Leading Source of Foreign Workers

China leads as the top source of foreign workers, with 82,623 workers in 2023 and 52,583 workers as of July 2024 —far outpacing other countries.

• Japan: 15,961 (2023) and 9,026 (as of July 2024) workers, mainly in automotive, technology, and manufacturing

• South Korea: 15,660 (2023) and 7,584 (as of July 2024) workers, also contributing to similar sectors.

• India: 8,747 (2023) and 5,356 (as of July 2024) workers, specializing in IT and technical fields.

• Malaysia: 5,794 (2023) and 3,514 (as of July 2024) workers.

• Philippines: 4,742 (2023) and 2,984 (as of July 2024) workers.

Other contributors include:

• United States: 3,585 (2023) and 1,759 (as of July 2024) workers.

• United Kingdom: 3,086 (2023) and 1,531 (as of July 2024) workers.

• Australia: 2,892 (2023) and 1,841 (as of July 2024) workers.

• Singapore: 2,090 workers (2023) and 1,171 (as of July 2024) workers.

Asia remains the dominant source of foreign workers, followed by contributions from the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. An additional 13,002 workers (as of July 2024) came from other countries not listed above.

Sector-Specific Insights (2023-2024)

1. Services Sector Dominates

The services sector employed the largest share of foreign workers, reaching with a total of 82,649 workers in 2023 and 50,543 as of July 2024. This figure grew steadily from 6,203 workers in January to 9,155 in July 2024.

2. Industrial Sector in Second Place

The industrial sector absorbed 80,661 foreign workers in 2023 and 47,031 foreign workers by July 2024, increasing from 6,818 in January to 7,854 in July 2024.

3. Agriculture and Maritime Lag Behind

The agriculture and maritime sectors employed significantly fewer foreign workers, with 4,738 workers in 2023 and 2,777 workers by July 2024, showing a gradual rise from 347 in January to 522 in July 2024.

Foreign Worker Positions in Indonesia

Professional roles dominate among foreign workers, with 52,036 professionals recorded as of July 2024. This figure increased from 6,531 in January to 9,058 in July.

Other key roles include:

• Advisors/Consultants: 21,256 workers (3,820 in July, up from 2,935 in January).
• Managerial Positions: 19,022 workers (rising from 2,721 in January to 3,216 in July).
• Directors: 7,270 workers (up from 1,053 in January to 1,279 in July).
• Commissioners: 767 workers, a smaller but steadily growing group.

This trend highlights the demand for specialized expertise, particularly in high-tech projects or roles requiring advanced knowledge and skills.

And the growth in foreign workers underscores Indonesia’s appeal as a hub for international expertise and its ongoing economic recovery, particularly in high-demand sectors like services and technology.

Source: goodstats.id, idntimes.com
Image credit: Getty Images

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