The phenomenon of people unemployed and not looking for work due to desperation has re-emerged as a crucial issue in assessing the health of Indonesia's labor market. This group is small compared to the total workforce, but its presence suggests structural barriers not captured by conventional indicators such as the open unemployment rate or labor force participation rate. The reasons they cite vary, ranging from a belief that job opportunities simply aren't available, to perceived inadequate work experience, to skills that don't match market needs, to the perception that age is viewed as disadvantageous by employers. These reasons suggest that some people who would prefer to work are hindered by a combination of psychological, institutional, and structural factors.

In international studies, institutions such as the ILO and the World Bank view discouraged workers as an early indicator of the fragility of labor supply and demand dynamics. Although statistically they only make up a small portion, the presence patterns of this group are often linked to deeper changes in economic conditions, such as weakening upward mobility, limited job placement services, or increasing unemployment. mismatch between skills and vacancies. In other words, small numbers don't necessarily mean trivial issues. In many countries, small spikes in this group often precede stagnation in labor participation or increases in informality, especially when vulnerable groups perceive available opportunities as unrealistic.

Therefore, the phenomenon of people desperate to find work needs to be considered as an important policy signal. This group may not exert direct pressure on unemployment statistics, but they reflect a form of unemployment. underutilization The invisible. Their existence challenges the assumption that the labor market is recovering solely because the unemployment rate (TPT) is declining. The government needs to identify the underlying causes, as this group highlights areas that need improvement, from incomplete labor market information services, training quality that is not linked to industry needs, to perceptions of discrimination that are not effectively addressed. By examining this phenomenon more closely, employment policies can be directed to ensure that those who desire to work are not trapped in prolonged unemployment.