infotech

Indonesia's IT Talent Portion Exceeds America And China But Technology Is Inferior

The number of IT talents in Indonesia is only 3.5% of the total productive age population or 15-64 years, according to data compiled by Dicoding Indonesia. The percentage is higher than America and China. 

The breakdown of the percentage of IT talents compared to the total productive age population is as follows: 

United States: 2.9% 

England: 2.9% 

Germany: 3.9% 

China: 1.1% 

Singapore: 5% 

CEO of Dicoding Indonesia Narenda Wicaksono said that countries such as America and China continue to be leaders in innovation in IT technology, including the development of artificial intelligence or AI technology. The contribution of the technology sector to the Gross Domestic Product or GDP in 2023 in the two countries is 8.8% - 10.5%. Meanwhile, in Indonesia it was 4.23% in 2023 and 4.34% last year. "Why is the contribution of IT to America and China's GDP twice as much as Indonesia? The answer is because the quality of Indonesian people needs to be improved," said Narenda at the Dicoding Connect event, in the Senayan area, South Jakarta, Thursday (20/2). "Indonesia has a target of becoming a developed country by 2045. To achieve this, the contribution of the IT sector to the economy must be increased," Narendra added. 

He recommended several considerations for the government and industry to maximize the technology sector for economic growth: 

Government 

Develop policies that support the integration of IT education with industry needs, including SKS conversion programs in universities and high schools. 

Expand the SKS conversion model to the high school level so that graduates have competencies that are more ready for industry. 

Increase investment in human resource development in informatics and ensure that digital training programs are widely available. 

Industry 

Invest in IT talent development through mentorship programs and industry-based training. 

Develop scholarship and internship programs for students and young professionals. 

Adopting artificial intelligence technology in the training process to increase learning effectiveness. Providing incentives or time allocation for employees to improve their skills in informatics.  

He gave the example of Google which provides the Bangkit program and other initiatives such as Google Start. Then, GoTo Gojek Tokopedia, Traveloka, and Accenture also play a role in developing IT talent through various mentorship and training programs. 

---

Tag: Dicoding Indonesia Technology