In Indonesia and many other developing nations, the conversation around technology is often focused on progress: smart cities, digital banking, and AI-powered industries. But beneath the excitement lies a quieter, more alarming shift—one that’s deepening inequality in ways we’re not ready for. This is the new digital divide: not just about access to the internet, but access to opportunity itself.
Technology, while a powerful enabler, is also a great disruptor. Automation, artificial intelligence, and digitisation are transforming industries at unprecedented speeds. And while white-collar workers adapt to new tools and platforms, low-skilled labourers, who form the backbone of Indonesia’s workforce, are being left behind.
A nation on the edge of displacement
Indonesia’s workforce heavily relies on low-skilled jobs, particularly in the informal sector. In many industrial and service-based jobs, machines and algorithms are now performing tasks once done by humans. In manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and even fisheries, I’ve noticed how digital tools are rapidly replacing human labour. What was once a stable job that put food on the table for millions has become increasingly uncertain.
This isn’t a distant future. It’s already happening. We see factory lines where humans are replaced by robots. Supermarkets where self-checkout counters reduce the need for cashiers. Farms and fisheries where apps manage feeding and irrigation more efficiently than seasonal labourers ever could. For people with limited education and digital access, this means fewer job openings and more competition for whatever is left.
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The human cost
What troubles me the most is not the technology itself—it’s the pace and the imbalance of change. Those who have the means to adapt are doing fine. They find new opportunities, take online courses, and move up. But what about those who don’t? What about the father in rural Sulawesi who spent his life in logistics, now replaced by a conveyor belt? Or the mother in Lombok who sold fresh produce, now bypassed by digital grocery platforms?
When technology leaves people behind, poverty doesn’t just persist—it deepens. With limited access to digital infrastructure, education, or financial support, these individuals face an uphill battle. They end up in informal gig jobs with no protection or benefits. Many simply fall out of the workforce altogether. I worry that without thoughtful intervention, we’re not just losing jobs—we’re losing dignity, community, and purpose.
An overlooked generation
There’s another group we often ignore in this conversation: the elderly. They’re asked to adapt to apps and systems they never needed before. From accessing healthcare to banking, everything is now digital-first. And yet, many seniors struggle to use smartphones, let alone navigate government portals or e-wallets.
In my opinion, this is not only unfair—it’s inhumane. We shouldn’t expect our parents and grandparents to keep up with tech that wasn’t designed with them in mind.
Polarisation in the making
What concerns me deeply is the path this leads us to. We’re creating a society where two Indonesias exist: one, tech-savvy and upwardly mobile; the other, struggling and invisible. If we let this divide grow, it won’t just be an economic issue—it will become a social crisis.
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Rising unemployment, especially among the low-skilled and older populations, could lead to increased crime rates, mental health issues, and even unrest. When people feel abandoned, they turn to whatever means they can to survive. And in a system that values efficiency over empathy, the cost of that abandonment could be staggering.
My opinion
As I reflect on the rapid digital transformation happening in Indonesia, I can’t help but feel a deep concern for the many people who stand to be left behind. Technology is undoubtedly powerful—it can bring us into a new era of efficiency, innovation, and global connectivity. However, the speed with which it’s advancing is leaving behind the most vulnerable.
What truly troubles me is how silent this shift is. The people most affected—those with low education levels, informal jobs, and little digital exposure—don’t have the platform to voice their fears or seek help. They simply disappear from the workforce, replaced by machines or apps.
We often hear about the opportunities technology brings, but rarely do we hear about the human cost when those opportunities are out of reach. As someone who’s seen firsthand the challenges faced by underserved communities in Indonesia, it’s hard not to worry that we’re creating a society where only those with the right education, the right tools, and the right connections will succeed.
This isn’t just a technological issue—it’s a moral one. If we allow automation and digitalization to proceed unchecked without protecting the most vulnerable, we’re setting ourselves up for a future with deeper poverty, rising crime, and social fragmentation.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: can we truly call ourselves a modern society if we are not lifting everyone up with us as we advance? If we don’t take action now, I fear we’ll be looking back in a decade, facing a more divided, unstable, and impoverished nation. It’s time we made the future not just digital, but inclusive, humane, and equitable for all.
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Image credit: DALL-E
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