Jakarta (ANTARA) - Synergy across all sectors of Indonesian society is essential to accelerating national development and addressing employment challenges, according to Minister of Manpower Yassierli.

"We still have a lot of work to do," he said in a statement issued on Saturday.

Yassierli stressed that national development requires the support and participation of all parties — not only the government, but also the private sector, universities, and the broader community.

He emphasized that every segment of society has an equal opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national progress.

The minister also noted a positive trend in declining unemployment rates, based on data from the National Labor Force Survey (Sakernas).

"The unemployment rate is an internationally recognized indicator of labor absorption. Sakernas data from August 2024 to February 2025 shows a decline," he said.

However, he warned that significant challenges remain, particularly the surge of new high school and vocational school graduates expected in 2025.

"This is a major challenge that the Ministry of Manpower cannot address alone," Yassierli stated. "Synergy and collaboration among all levels of government and stakeholders are essential."

He added that the implementation of priority government programs, such as Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) and food self-sufficiency, has positively impacted public welfare, which will be reflected in the upcoming Sakernas data in August.

Meanwhile, Yosminaldi, Chairperson of the Association of Human Resource Practitioners (ASPHRI), said the association continues to promote harmonious, dynamic, fair, and sustainable industrial relations to strengthen Indonesia’s employment ecosystem.

He noted that cooperation among the government, employers, and workers remains key to resolving employment-related issues.

ASPHRI, he added, also works with HR associations and academics to address future workforce challenges.

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Translator: Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: Anton Santoso
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