September 24, 2025 | 07:00 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Labor Party President, Said Iqbal, sheds light on the phenomenon of job hugging that is currently being widely discussed among young workers. Job hugging is when workers stay in one job for a long time despite feeling dissatisfied or stagnant. "They stay without seeking new employment or leaving their current job, even though they no longer like it, for example, due to the low salary," said Said Iqbal at the Sofyan Hotel in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 24th, 2025.
This phenomenon stands in stark contrast to job hopping, which is done to earn a higher salary. From 2021 to 2022, job hopping was more popular, but it has become less frequent now as the younger generation is afraid to leave their jobs.
Said Iqbal believes that economic pressure and the uncertainty of new job opportunities have triggered this shift in trend. The shortage of job openings also adds to the hesitation of young workers to leave. "The supply and demand of the workforce are not balanced. There is more supply than demand. It is the government's task to create new job opportunities," said the President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions.
The phenomenon of job hugging went viral after the Glassdoor Worklife Trends 2025 report revealed a sluggish job market with slow hiring. As a result, many workers are trapped in their careers. According to Glassdoor, nearly two out of three respondents (65 percent) feel "trapped" in their current roles, a figure that rises to 73 percent in the technology field.
Tips for Workers to Grow
Rather than remaining silent and feeling trapped by insecurity, workers have several ways to continue growing. Here are some recommendations:
Plan the next career steps
According to Tara Ceranic Salinas, a business ethics professor quoted in Forbes, Now is the perfect time to start planning your next career steps. Employees can identify which aspects of their job feel unsatisfactory. Salinas suggests looking at the jobs of other colleagues that are of interest, and then mapping the skills required to transition to those roles.
Sharpen skills and seek internal opportunities
Instead of staying idle, make use of this time to sharpen new skills. As reported by Stylist, Peter Duris, CEO of Kickresume, suggests that employees look for internal opportunities, such as applying for open roles within the company or requesting involvement in new projects from their managers. This can help reignite motivation and provide new challenges without leaving the company.
Find a mentor and build a career map
Schielke recommends having a "sounding board" or trusted advisor from various business fields. Having a mentor can provide an unbiased perspective to evaluate performance and individual potential. He also suggests that employees create a career map to understand their current position and how they can contribute in the long term, or when it is the right time to move on and start a new path.
Communicate with superiors
According to Schielke, employees should proactively communicate with their superiors or managers. This communication is important for positioning oneself well and succeeding in one's current role. Asking for feedback and discussing self-development plans can demonstrate initiative and make superiors more concerned about our career growth.
Melika Azaya contributed to the writing of this article
Editor's Choice: What is Job Hugging, a New Trend Amidst a Bleak Economy?
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Manpower Ministry Addresses Workers' Demands in Today's Protest
2 hari lalu
Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor said that the protest is a constitutional right to freedom of assembly and expression.
Freeport Indonesia Mining Landslide: Two Workers Found Dead, 5 Remain Trapped
4 hari lalu
Rescuers still search for five other PT Freeport Indonesia workers who have been trapped since Monday, September 8, 2025.
Trump Announces $100,000 Fee for H-1B Visa Applications
4 hari lalu
The H-1B visa program is used extensively by tech companies to attract skilled foreign workers, majority from India and China.
Ontario Minimum Wage Hike 2025: How Does It Compare with the Living Cost?
5 hari lalu
Starting October 1, Ontario minimum wage will increase from $17.20 to $17.60 per hour. However, experts say this 2.3% raise is nowhere near enough.
8 Healthy Tips for Achieving a Work-Life Balance
5 hari lalu
Achieving work-life balance involves setting priorities, creating clear schedules, and limiting work hours and gadget use outside of work.
Workers Union Welcome Broader Tax-Free Incentives in Indonesia
6 hari lalu
The Association of All Indonesian Workers (Aspirasi) welcomes the government's policy to expand tax incentives for employees with incomes below Rp10 million.
The Highest-Paying Jobs in Canada: Healthcare Industry Still Dominates
6 hari lalu
The highest-paying jobs in Canada span healthcare, tech, and finance, offering top salaries and career stability for professionals across industries.
Air Travel on Alert: List of Airport Workers Strikes in Europe for September 2025
7 hari lalu
Here is a list of strikes by airport workers in several European countries.
Reforming Australia's Migration to Favour Skilled Workers, Not Family Reunion
13 hari lalu
Australia's migration programme has failed to deliver what it promises.
Indonesia's Consumer Confidence Falls, Spending Power Expected to Drop
13 hari lalu
Economist Achmad Nur Hidayat believes that the decline in the Consumer Confidence Index serves as a warning that purchasing power could decrease more sharply.
