East Java Youth Development Index Linked to SDG 8 Progress, Study Finds Structural Job Gaps Persist
Young people in East Java are gaining better access to education and basic job readiness, but structural barriers in the labor market continue to limit their transition into decent work. This conclusion comes from a 2026 peer-reviewed study by Aditya Wahyu Dwi Kurniawan, Amirul Mustofa, and Ika Devy Pramudiana from Universitas Dr. Soetomo (Unitomo), Surabaya, published in the International Journal of Integrative Sciences. The research matters because East Java is Indonesia’s second-most populous province and a key testing ground for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Published in early 2026, the study examines how the Youth Development Index (YDI)—a national indicator covering education, health, employment, participation, and inclusivity—connects with real progress toward SDG 8 in East Java. The authors show that while youth capabilities are improving on paper, many young people remain trapped in informal jobs, unemployment, or prolonged transitions from school to work.
Why youth development matters now
Indonesia is in the middle of a demographic bonus, with more than a quarter of its population aged 16–30. In East Java alone, millions of young people are expected to drive productivity, entrepreneurship, and innovation over the next decade. Yet the province also faces persistent gaps between urban and rural areas, high youth unemployment, and widespread informal work.
The Youth Development Index has become a key policy tool to measure whether young people are gaining the education, skills, health, and opportunities they need. At the same time, SDG 8 pushes governments to ensure that economic growth translates into decent, productive, and secure jobs. The Unitomo researchers argue that linking these two frameworks reveals where policies succeed—and where they fall short.
How the study was conducted
Instead of surveys or experiments, the researchers used a qualitative, descriptive–exploratory approach based on extensive document analysis. They reviewed:
a. Official Youth Development Index data for East Java (2021–2023)
b. SDG 8 indicators from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) and provincial reports
c. National and regional policy documents, including East Java’s 2025–2029 development plan
d. Relevant national and international academic studies
The analysis applied Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach, which focuses on whether people can turn resources and opportunities into real, meaningful outcomes—such as stable jobs, income security, and career mobility.
Key findings: progress with uneven results
The study highlights several important trends.
b. Decent
employment, showing gradual improvement
However, participation in leadership and civic roles remained the weakest domain.
a. Youth unemployment (ages 15–24) stayed
around 19–21 percent
b. Nearly 63 percent of
young workers were still in informal jobs
c. Youth entrepreneurship remained stagnant at
around 1.1–1.2 percent
Economic growth, the study shows, has not been fully converted into stable and decent work for young people.
Interpreting the gap: opportunities versus outcomes
Using the Capability Approach, the researchers explain that East Java has expanded opportunities—such as schooling, training programs, and job initiatives—but faces serious conversion barriers. These include:
a. Mismatch between education and industry needs
b. Limited access to certification, capital, and business networks
c. Dominance of informal and low-quality jobs
d. Weak school-to-work transition systems
“As reflected in the data, the expansion of youth capabilities has not always translated into stable employment, career mobility, or inclusive access for vulnerable groups,” the authors from Universitas Dr. Soetomo note in their analysis.
Policy implications for East Java
The study reviews several provincial programs aligned with SDG 8, such as the Youth Creativepreneur Centre, Millennium Job Centre, EkoTren One Pesantren One Product, and vocational-based equality education. These initiatives aim to strengthen entrepreneurship, improve job matching, and reduce youth unemployment.
However, the authors stress that future policies must go further by:
a. Strengthening industry-linked vocational education
b. Expanding access to recognized certification and apprenticeships
c. Supporting youth entrepreneurship with capital and mentoring, not just training
d. Reducing reliance on informal work through formal job creation
e. Ensuring inclusion for young people with disabilities and women
Without tackling these structural issues, East Java risks missing the full benefits of its demographic bonus.
Author profiles
Aditya Wahyu Dwi Kurniawan, S.Sos., M.A. Universitas Dr. Soetomo,
Amirul Mustofa, S.E., M.E. Universitas Dr. Soetomo
Ika Devy Pramudiana, S.Sos., M.Si. Universitas Dr. Soetomo
Source
Published by Formosa News
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