Gen Z is no longer in schools, but it’s their time to enter the job market. Lately in Indonesia, a trend has been going on social media where many Gen Z proudly reveal their jobs, very raw, as those not considered “real jobs” by society’s standardized occupations.
It is commonly like this: society accepts jobs like doctor, lawyer, or teacher, as “real jobs” because they provide stability in income. Meanwhile, other jobs like selling groceries, running street food stalls, or being an online driver were often viewed as less respectable.
That’s why this trend feels refreshing in society. Indonesian Gen Z are not ashamed to reveal whatever jobs they have. Looking closer, there are several interesting things that we can pay attention to from this phenomenon.
Gen Z Faces Rising Living Costs with Low Job Opportunities
Behind the trend of unapologetically revealing their “unstandardized” jobs, there is a bitter reality of rising living costs. According to Statistics Indonesia, the inflation rate from September 2024 to September 2025 fluctuates between 2.31% and 2.65%. There are 37 provinces in total experiencing this inflation.
Inflation influences the raise of living cost for the life of Indonesian Gen Z. Many of them are now in college, living far from home, or even entering the job market. However, job opportunities remain limited, and salaries often fail to balance the rising expenses. The expenses are rising, but the income stays the same.
Because of this, many Indonesian Gen Z have no choice but to earn money. The trend shows many Gen Z revealing their jobs, such as being street food sellers, online motorbike drivers, grocery sellers, or household assistants, and so on even with a bachelor’ degree. This trend gained positive reactions from public,who find it relatable.
The existence of this trend proves that Gen Z continues to break stereotypes and challenge the rigid standards that often do not represent the whole community. And now, they are brave enough to reveal the jobs they do, as long as they earn it honestly.
Gen Z Has Digital Platforms for Creating Opportunities
Jobs like content creator or freelancer are still sometimes underestimated by society. These kinds of jobs are often seen as side jobs, mainly because of their perceived instability in income. Despite that, Indonesian Gen Z are exploring and increasingly doing this path instead.
As the digital era surrounds people today, many digital platforms have become useful mediums for Gen Z to create their own opportunities. Many Indonesian Gen Z start their own businesses via e-commerce and social media. They usually are able in basic content creating skills to promote their products.
Related to this, Indonesian Gen Z prefer to choose this path because they also prioritize the need for a work-life balance culture. According to Statista, 92% of Gen Z in Indonesia agree that work-life balance is important, as of February 2024.
The data also reveals that 68% of them consider a safe and supportive work environment to be vital. This becomes one of the reasons why Gen Z prefers not to work in an office, but instead on their own flexible time that can take care better of their mental health.
Gen Z Works for What It’s Worth, Not Only for Money
On the other side, many Indonesian Gen Z also intentionally choose to work in these fields. Gen Z tends to look for jobs that align with their personal values. In Indonesia, data from Statista shows that maintaining mental health and reducing stress are among the top reasons they value work-life balance so much.
This shows how Gen Z in Indonesia are increasingly aware of the importance of mental health. They also realize that working without assurance of a safe environment can lead to burnout. Gen Z loves to engage actively on social media, which proves that they want genuine interaction in the workplace where they can learn and grow together.
It’s not that Gen Z are being picky, but rather that they have learned from past experiences, adapted quickly, and now they want to redefine the system. This act is a reflection of their desire for meaningful impact, that not only to earn money, but also grows their self-development.
There’s no such thing as a “real” job. Every job is a job and an important one in every aspect of life. Indonesian Gen Z recognize this and want to claim their freedom in choosing any job they want to do. Along with the trend of revealing their jobs, this is actually an inspiring move from Indonesian Gen Z that we should not overlook.
