Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) as of November 2025 shows that Indonesia’s open unemployment rate stood at 4.47%, equivalent to 7.46 million people. Generation Z (aged 15–24) accounted for 16.26% of this figure, the highest proportion among all age groups.
The Challenge of Finding Employment After Graduation
Although around 45% of college‑aged individuals are enrolled in higher education and hold a bachelor’s degree, this no longer guarantees employment. Many graduates still struggle to find jobs that match their qualifications.
One major factor is the skills gap between graduates’ competencies and the demands of the modern labour market. Rapid market dynamics, curricula that tend to be administrative, and limited renewal of school facilities and infrastructure contribute to graduates having outdated skills that do not align with industry needs.
This challenge is even more severe for secondary school (SMA/SMK) graduates from marginalised groups. They face a highly competitive labour market without the financial capacity to pursue higher education. This deepens inequality in access to job opportunities and highlights the need for policy interventions focused on strengthening vocational skills, providing financial support, and improving transition systems from secondary education to the workforce. In addition, they often lack access to activities that build soft skills and to information about job vacancies.
Preparing Young People for Labour Market Competition
In line with our focus at Yayasan Lentera Komitmen Indonesia, which believes that empowering marginalised groups is key to driving economic growth, we have developed an internal programme dedicated to building young people’s skills to prepare them for entering the workforce.
The Youth Employment Preparation Programme was designed to address these challenges through targeted training activities for vocational high school (SMK) students approaching graduation.
From mid‑April to May, KOMIt Foundation actively conducted training sessions in SMKs across Surabaya. These activities were focused on equipping graduating students with the skills needed to enter the labour market.
The Main Tools for Job Applications: Developing Two Strategic Sides
In our comprehensive sessions, the material focused on building social capital, helping participants understand today’s highly dynamic labour market. We also guided them in preparing for entry into the workforce, particularly through technical training on CV and cover letter writing. While these documents may seem simple, many students from marginalised groups lack experience and mentors to help them prepare them properly.
Beyond documentation, the second crucial stage in the job selection process is the interview. Training sessions were designed to be as interactive as possible, allowing participants to practice interview simulations with common questions asked during recruitment.
So far, we have reached nearly 400 young people in high schools and universities through this employment preparation training. In addition, we have opened communication channels for participants who wish to seek individual consultation or mentorship regarding job preparation. Our hope is to continue running this programme to realise inclusive development for all groups.