Youth Leadership and Demographic Dividend: Human Capital Strategy for Indonesia's National Resilience Toward 2045
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59890/mjst.v3i4.208Keywords:
Demographic Dividend, Youth Leadership, Human Capital, Indonesia, Gen Z, Skills Mismatch, Mental Health, Entrepreneurship, Gender Equality, Education ReformAbstract
Indonesia stands at a critical demographic juncture, with 70.72% of its population in the productive age group, yet faces a youth unemployment paradox: 19.1% versus the national average of 6.26%. This qualitative literature review examines Indonesia's human capital strategy for optimizing the demographic dividend window (2020-2035) through youth leadership development and empowerment mechanisms. Drawing on Bappenas RPJPN 2025-2045, the IDN Research Institute Gen Z Report 2024, Indonesia’s Youth Development Index, and 70+ peer-reviewed sources from 2020-2026, this article analyzes the aspirations, challenges, and institutional frameworks shaping Indonesia's youth demographic. Findings reveal a significant skills mismatch between educational output and Industry 4.0 demands, with 68% of youth aspiring to entrepreneurship but only 12% succeeding. Mental health crisis affects 51% of Gen Z, while women youth leaders face additional structural barriers. The Lemhannas-led AKMINAS program and Beasiswa Indonesia Maju demonstrate promising models but require scaling. Policy recommendations address education system transformation, venture capital fund establishment, inter-agency youth coordination mechanism, and gender-responsive programming. This evidence-based analysis provides strategic guidance on harnessing Indonesia's demographic dividend to advance the Indonesia Emas 2045 vision
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