Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A recent survey conducted by Ipsos, a global market research and consulting firm based in Paris, reveals that politicians and police are the leas trusted professions in Indonesia. The finding was revealed in surveys titled the Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Index 2024.
Published in October 2024, Ipsos surveys spanned 32 countries. It was conducted on the Global Advisor online platform between May 24 and June 7, 2024.
In Indonesia, the findings show that politicians and police rank as the two least trusted professions, according to respondents. The survey included 23,530 adults aged 18 and above, with approximately 500 respondents from Indonesia, aged between 21 and 74. Ipsos calculated the survey’s accuracy using credibility intervals.
The Least Trusted Professions in Indonesia
The survey assessed the trustworthiness of over 20 professions, including doctors, bankers, taxi drivers, religious leaders, journalists, businesspeople, and restaurant workers.
Among Indonesians, politicians ranked as the least trusted profession, with 45% of respondents expressing distrust. Police officers and cabinet members/ministries followed closely, both with 41%.
Social media influencers ranked fourth with 25% distrust, while lawyers and government officials each scored 24%. Judges were distrusted by 23% of respondents. Other professions, such as doctors, taxi drivers, and journalists, had lower distrust levels, remaining below 20%.
The Most Trusted Professions in Indonesia
Conversely, the survey highlighted the three most trusted professions among Indonesians. Teachers topped the list with a trust level of 74%, followed by doctors at 73% and researchers at 70%.
Religious leaders also garnered high trust, with 66%, while restaurant workers (57%) and military personnel (56%) rounded out the list of trusted professions. Interestingly, Indonesians displayed the highest global trust levels for some professions, including doctors, teachers, restaurant workers, taxi drivers, researchers, and journalists.
Global Trends in Trustworthiness
Globally, the survey reflected similar patterns, with doctors, teachers, and researchers ranking as the most trusted professions for six consecutive years. This global trend is based on a previous survey edition involving 17,519 respondents from 20 countries.
From 2018 to 2024 (excluding 2020), the top five globally trusted professions have consistently been:
- Doctors
- Researchers
- Teachers
- Restaurant workers
- Military personnel
Conversely, the least trusted professions globally during the same period were:
- Politicians
- Social media influencers
- Cabinet members/ministries
- Advertising executives
Global distrust of politicians was notably higher, at 58%. Among the 32 countries surveyed, only India and Singapore reported slightly higher levels of trust than distrust in politicians.
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Rebuilding Public Trust
The Ipsos findings underscore the significant challenges politicians face in restoring public trust, both in Indonesia and globally. Transparency, accountability, alignment with public interests, and responsiveness to societal aspirations are crucial for politicians seeking to rebuild their image and strengthen their relationship with the public.
(Raidi/Agung)
