Indonesia’s creative economy employed 27.4 million people in 2025, or 18.7 percent of the workforce, exceeding government targets and underscoring its growing role as a driver of jobs and growth, official data showed.
Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya said data compiled by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) showed employment in the sector had surpassed the 2025 target of 25.55 million workers.
Creative economy statistics are critical for shaping data-driven policies aligned with the needs of creative industry players across regions, Teuku said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday.
"I appreciate BPS. Our collaboration began in 2010, paused, and was revived in 2025 as part of Asta Ekraf, particularly Ekraf Data, to strengthen data-driven policymaking," he said.
Asta Ekraf is the ministry’s flagship framework comprising eight strategic pillars for creative economy development, including data strengthening, talent development, market access, financing, and inter-agency coordination.
Ekraf Data, one of the pillars, focuses on improving the quality, accuracy, and continuity of creative economy statistics to support evidence-based policies aligned with regional needs.
BPS data showed more than 50 percent of creative economy workers were under 40 years old, underscoring the sector’s role as a key source of employment for younger generations.
The creative economy’s contribution to gross domestic product at current prices reached Rp1,611.2 trillion in 2024, accounting for 7.28 percent of national GDP, BPS said.
Creative economy exports also posted solid growth, reaching US$26.68 billion in January-October 2025, or 11.96 percent of Indonesia’s non-oil and gas exports, exceeding the 2025 national target.
Fashion led exports at US$14.86 billion, followed by crafts at US$11.10 billion, with the United States the top destination, followed by Switzerland and Japan.
Teuku said the figures confirmed the creative economy had evolved into a tangible economic force.
"The creative economy is no longer just potential. It is a new resource and a new engine of growth, rooted in regions and driving Indonesia forward," he said.
BPS Head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti said creative economy gross domestic product grew 6.57 percent in 2024, outpacing Indonesia’s overall economic growth of 5.03 percent and contributing significantly to job creation.
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Translator: Fitra Ashari, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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