Mandarin's Ability Is A Value More In The World Of Work Future

JAKARTA - Mandarin language skills are now one of the increasingly hunted competencies in the globalization era.

In the midst of increasing international business connectivity, especially with China as the world's economic power, mastery of Chinese is no longer just an added value, but is one of the important skills in strengthening the competitiveness of today's and the future world of work.

This was confirmed by Baldwin Husin, founder of online learning platform Jago Mandarin Online. According to him, mastery of foreign languages, especially Mandarin, is a relevant upskilling strategy amidst the increasingly dynamic challenges of the world of work.

"Right now, many professionals are starting to realize that they need to improve competence, and one of the strategic paths is to master Mandarin," Baldwin said as quoted by ANTARA.

Baldwin highlighted the increasing wave of layoffs (PHK) in Indonesia during the first half of 2025 as a trigger for awareness of the importance of skills adaptation. Based on data from the Ministry of Manpower, more than 40,000 workers were affected by layoffs, especially in the technology, manufacturing and retail sectors.

This condition shows that dependence on one area of expertise is no longer enough. "Now the workforce is required to be more flexible, and Mandarin has become an important entry point in responding to the growing needs of the industry, especially those related to partners from China," said Baldwin.

With the increase in investment and expansion of Chinese companies in Indonesia, energy, logistics, and e-commerce, the need for workers who are fluent in Mandarin has also increased sharply.

Mandarin is now a strategic tool for establishing cross-cultural communication in the international business world. In many sectors, this ability has become a work requirement, not just a bonus anymore," he added.

Regarding mastery or learning Mandarin, Baldwin said a practical and relevant learning approach, adjusting to industrial needs needs to be a priority, then not to forget that learning methods need to be made flexible and personal, so that they are in line with the background and goals of learning participants.

Not only focusing on theory, teaching is also directed at real scenarios in the world of work, ranging from professional conversations in the textile and retail sectors to business communication in multinational companies.

Mastering Mandarin not only opens up greater job opportunities, but also expands professional networks at the regional level, especially in East and Southeast Asia.

Language is a bridge to open a brighter future. Everyone has the opportunity to develop if they have the right communication tools," he said.

The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)