This figure excludes those previously employed but later laid off or resigned, said Surya Lukita Warman, head of the ministry's Labor Market Center, on Friday.
He explained that every year about 3.5 million graduates from vocational schools, high schools, and universities enter the job market.
Warman highlighted Indonesia’s unemployment rate, which stands at 4.8 percent — claimed to be the lowest since the reform era but still considered high. He noted that around 7.2 million people remain unemployed.
"Imagine 3.5 million new entrants joining the job market, while 7.2 million are already unemployed. If accumulated, more than 10 million — about 10.7 million — need jobs," Warman said.
He pointed to several challenges in the labor market: lack of soft skills, low education levels, rapid technological change including AI and Industry 4.0, and shifts toward a green economy amid global dynamics.
To tackle these issues, Warman said the ministry is enforcing regulations requiring employers to report job vacancies and is digitalizing platforms to improve access.
"All employers must report vacancies to the ministry through our information system. We have created a platform called KarirHub," he explained.
He added that the ministry also runs SiapKerja, an app that integrates labor information and services for employers and partners online.
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Translator: Arnidhya Nur Zhafira, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Anton Santoso
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