Surabaya, 4 November 2025 — The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency is accelerating the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen the gig economy, which now serves as the main source of income for more than 60 percent of Indonesia’s young workforce. This initiative responds to Indonesia’s rapidly expanding AI market, projected to grow from USD 1.77 billion in 2023 to USD 10.89 billion by 2030, despite low adoption and talent readiness.
Direktur Teknologi Digital Baru Kementerian Ekraf, Dandy Yudha Feryawan, memberi sambutan pada kegiatan Industrial Relations Conference 2025 yang digelar oleh Apindo Training Center (ATC) di Hotel Platinum, Surabaya, Selasa (4/11/2025).
“More than 60 percent of Millennials and Gen Z work flexibly as freelancers, digital creators, and project-based creative workers. This is the new face of work — the gig economy — a space that allows creativity, collaboration, and independence to grow,” said the Director of Emerging Digital Technology at the Ministry of Creative Economy, Dandy Yudha Feryawan, at the 11th Industrial Relations Conference titled “Navigating the New Dynamics of Industrial Relations in the Era of AI and Industrial Resilience”, organized by the Apindo Training Center (ATC) at Platinum Hotel Surabaya, Tuesday, 4 November 2025.
Dandy highlighted Indonesia’s massive but underutilized AI potential. He emphasized that the government, including the Ministry of Creative Economy, holds a responsibility to strengthen digital literacy, reskilling efforts, and adaptive policies to ensure creative workers can harness AI without losing social protection.
Communication Bureau of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
“Our AI market value reached USD 1.77 billion in 2023 and is projected to rise to USD 10.89 billion by 2030. Yet corporate AI adoption stands at only 23 percent, and AI-related talent amounts to just 1.06 percent. This is a great opportunity, but also a major homework,” Dandy noted.
The conference brought together government officials, industry leaders, academics, and creative workers to discuss workforce training, industrial decentralization, and upskilling to balance technological efficiency and equitable economic growth.
Communication Bureau of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
Shinta Widjaja Kamdani, Chairperson of Apindo, stressed that both industry and workers must adapt rapidly to digitalization.
“With automation and digitalization, the world of work has completely changed. Job types are shifting, as are the skills required. Digital literacy is now essential,” Shinta said.
Minister of Manpower Yassierli reinforced that digitalization and AI demand a transformation in the way industrial relations are understood. According to Yassierli, successful transformation can only happen when workers, unions, and company management share the same foundation: productivity.
“When we talk about industrial relations, the conversation often stops at harmony. But we need something beyond harmony — we need transformative industrial relations. The key word is productivity. If both companies and labor unions understand this, many issues can be resolved more easily,” the Minister stated.
Communication Bureau of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
In the same forum, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso, emphasized that the government is refining labor and digital economy policies to address the impact of AI and automation. He stressed the importance of ensuring that industrial digital transformation remains inclusive and just, especially in shaping the future of industrial relations.
“AI must remain human-centered. Technology must provide benefits and uphold ethics, fairness, and welfare,” he said.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of Communication Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
