Top of the world: why Indonesian workers are happiest in Asia-Pacific

While a survey shows that 82 per cent of Indonesian workers are happy, it also flags increasing burnout among them

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Indonesians walk on a pedestrian bridge in Jakarta. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 4:00pm, 15 Mar 2026

A survey showing workers in Indonesia as the happiest in Asia-Pacific has prompted discussions about the factors underpinning their positive attitudes relative to their regional peers.

A workplace report published this month by employment marketplace Jobstreet by SEEK found 82 per cent of Indonesian respondents said they felt somewhat or extremely happy at work, the highest level among eight regional markets surveyed.

The headline figure inevitably begs the question: does the result reflect cultural attitudes towards work, strong social ties in the workplace, or even a tendency to express contentment despite economic pressures?

Experts say the answer is likely a mix of all three.

While Indonesia’s communal culture and religious outlook may help workers find meaning and solidarity in their jobs, the survey also hints at underlying tensions, including burnout, job insecurity and limited opportunities for those who drop out of the workforce.

In comparison, workers in the Philippines scored 77 per cent, followed by Malaysia at 70 per cent, Thailand at 67 per cent and New Zealand at 65 per cent.

At the lower end of the ranking were Australia at 57 per cent, Singapore at 56 per cent and Hong Kong at 47 per cent, “underscoring the more competitive corporate culture and local cost of living pressures faced by workers in these locations”, according to the report.

Top of the world: why Indonesian workers are happiest in Asia-Pacific

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}While a survey shows that 82 per cent of Indonesian workers are happy, it also flags increasing burnout among them

While a survey shows that 82 per cent of Indonesian workers are happy, it also flags increasing burnout among them