Robert Walters: 81 percent of companies struggle to find right candidates

Jakarta, Thekabarnews.com—The job market in Indonesia is still favorable in 2026, and more than half of businesses want to hire more people. However, the Robert Walters Salary Survey 2026 says that it is getting harder and harder to find the right people.

The report says that 48 percent of businesses want to hire more people this year. Even though they are still hiring, 81 percent of companies say there is a growing candidates gap. There are enough applicants, but expectations are rising, and the skills needed don’t match the available skills.

The Country Head of Robert Walters Indonesia & Vietnam, Eric Mary, stated that companies are no longer hiring as many people. They are only hiring people for jobs that will clearly be beneficial for the business. 

“Employers in Indonesia continue to hire, but they have elevated their hiring standards. Companies are far more focused on getting the right skills and experience into critical roles. This is why many are feeling the talent gap more acutely,” he said.

This careful approach also shapes how companies set salaries. Most companies plan to give their workers raises of 3 to 6 percent every year. At the same time, people who change jobs usually want a raise of at least 10 percent. Moreover, companies usually give these kinds of bonuses to roles that are crucial to the business or require extensive training.

Professionals are still open to new opportunities, but they are more selective. Associate Director for Sales & Marketing and Commerce Finance at Robert Walters Indonesia, Michelle Tanjung, said that candidates now think about the quality of the leadership, the scope of the job, and the long-term value of the profession before making a choice. 

“Professionals are not disengaging from the market—they are choosing opportunities more selectively. Candidates will walk away from roles that lack clear leadership, well-defined scope, or strong long-term career value. This trend is making hiring feel tougher even when vacancies remain open,” Michelle said.

Using AI is changing the way people hire even more. More than 60 percent of businesses have already used or plan to use AI. Despite their satisfaction with AI’s growth, most professionals remain concerned about their training and readiness.

In 2026, there will still be many jobs in Indonesia, but it will be harder to find one. Therefore, it will be more important to make sure that salary expectations, skills readiness, hiring speed, and long-term career worth are all in line than to hire many people.