Deputy Minister of Manpower emphasises inclusive workforce readiness for young people

Jakarta - Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor emphasised the importance of inclusive workforce readiness for young people amid the acceleration of digital economic transformation, which demands enhanced skills and equal access to employment opportunities.

In his statement in Jakarta on Thursday, he said that preparing young people for the workforce still faces challenges, particularly regarding unequal access to education, training, and skill development. He stressed that this situation is a key focus in strengthening national labour policies, necessitating continuous expansion of training access and competency enhancement.

Furthermore, Noor highlighted that digital economic acceleration must be accompanied by improved human resource quality to adapt to evolving workplace needs. ‘The government will continuously strengthen vocational training transformation to be more responsive to industry developments and labour market demands,’ he said.

He also emphasised the importance of inclusivity in national labour policies, including expanding job opportunities and creating discrimination-free work environments. ‘Inclusivity is a crucial part of national labour policies, including efforts to broaden job access and foster discrimination-free workplaces,’ Noor stated.

The Ministry of Manpower is further strengthening the employment ecosystem through strategic programmes, such as developing self-employed workforce, digital workforce information via SIAP Kerja, and labour-intensive programmes for employment absorption across regions. ’ Strengthening the employment ecosystem requires collaboration between government, business, education and training institutions, civil society organisations, communities, and all stakeholders,’ he added.