As captured in the National Kawula17 Survey

(NKS) Q1 2026, the economy (64%) and poverty (59%) are the two main concerns for

Indonesians, especially for those with junior/senior high school level

education (67%). Nonetheless, this concern is not a niche problem affecting

only one segment of society but also appears across multiple demographics. This

pattern suggests that the concern is systemic rather than isolated, driven

by underlying structural conditions, such as the labour market and the cost of

living, including high food prices.

Economic concerns are primarily

expressed through immediate realities, such as the difficulty of finding stable

employment and the rising cost of food and staples. The issue is not only that

economic challenges persist, but that responses to government performance in

economic and poverty issues are seen as insufficient.

Although the government has introduced

programs such as the 19 million jobs initiative,

labour concerns remain a top priority for 43% of Indonesians. At the same time,

a majority (54%) express dissatisfaction with the program. This gap suggests

that existing initiatives, while ambitious in scope, have yet to address the

structural challenges faced in the labour market.

Individual blame for poverty assumes

that improving one’s economic condition is primarily within individual control.

However, the patterns reflected in the NKS Q1 2026 findings suggest a more

complex reality.

Structural poverty refers to societal

structures that produce unequal outcomes across groups, placing some at greater

risk of poverty and hardship (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2025). This reflects

the NKS Q1 2026 findings: while economic and poverty issues are significantly

more crucial for those with lower levels of education, they remain a vital topic

among most Indonesians.

Reframing the issue from individual responsibility

to structural conditions does not negate the role of personal agency. Rather, it

oftentimes highlights that individual outcomes are shaped within a broader systemic

agency that determines access to opportunities and resources. This translates

to the unemployment rate becoming the most pivotal concern for 45% Indonesians.

Ultimately, addressing economic

marginalisation requires a closer alignment between policy design and lived

experience. As the NKS Q1 2026 findings illustrate, economic pressure is not an

abstract concern, but one felt directly in daily life. Recognising the

structural dimensions of poverty can help inform responses that are not only

more targeted but also more effective in addressing the challenges faced by

different segments of society.

Check our full National Kawula17 Survey (NKS) Q1 2026 report (in Bahasa Indonesia) here.