Switzerland, like much of Europe, faces a growing labor crisis. Retail, logistics, hospitality and healthcare are in critically short supply. With fertility rates falling and young people choosing academic careers over vocational training, the talent gap is widening.

Indonesia, meanwhile, is a young and growing nation, projected to expand demographically until 2054. Once known primarily for sending domestic workers to neighboring Asian markets, Indonesia now offers a new profile: educated, skilled professionals who cannot find sufficient opportunities at home. “Finding a job in Indonesia is difficult,” says Ureshii, explaining that she could only earn about $183 a month in local nursing homes. She plans to work abroad where higher wages will allow her to support the family back home.

Japan has already recognized this potential. Over the past six years, it has recruited qualified Indonesian workers in large numbers—recently increasing its target from 100,000 to 250,000 over the next five years.

According to Nikkei Asia Indonesia is now turning towards Europe. Last week, its Ministry of Manpower sent nurses to Germany, signaling a strategic move to position Indonesian workers as a reliable source of talent for ageing economies.

For Switzerland, the timing is critical. With a predicted shortfall of 460,000 full-time workers (Economiesuisse) within the next decade, the need is undeniable.

For Ureshii and many others, a chance to work abroad means more than higher pay—it means dignity, purpose, and the ability to care for loved ones. For Switzerland, it may mean closing a gap that threatens its economic stability. Sometimes, the right partnerships solve more than one problem at once.