Energy Transition Drives Demand for Competent and Highly Competitive Workforce

Amid intense global economic competition and the acceleration of the energy transition, investment in human resources has become the most decisive factor in maintaining Indonesia’s competitiveness. Strengthening workforce competence is not only needed to increase industrial productivity but also serves as the foundation for sustainable national economic growth. This view was expressed by PT Pertamina (Persero) President Commissioner Mochamad Iriawan during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation Agreement between Pertamina and the Ministry of Manpower in Jakarta on Monday. The cooperation focuses on strengthening vocational training in the field of Occupational Health and Safety to create a more competent workforce ready to face future industrial challenges. According to Iriawan, a company’s and a country’s success is no longer determined solely by asset ownership or technology, but by the quality of human resources capable of adapting to change. “The best investment that can be made is investment in people. Superior, adaptive, and competitive human resources will determine Indonesia’s success in facing global economic changes,” he said. Iriawan assessed that collaboration between the business sector and the government is a strategic step to strengthen national competitiveness, especially as the energy sector undergoes a major transformation towards a low-carbon economy. Under these conditions, the need for a highly competent workforce continues to increase. From an economic perspective, he continued, improving workforce quality is believed to have a multiplier effect on industrial productivity, operational efficiency, and Indonesia’s investment competitiveness. “Strengthening competence is also an important factor in supporting the growth targets of the energy sector, which is one of the pillars of the national economy,” Iriawan concluded. Minister of Manpower Yassierli said the synergy with Pertamina serves as an example of collaboration that can strengthen the quality of Indonesia’s workforce. According to him, developing future skills and competencies is an urgent need amid the increasingly rapid changes in the world of work. “Pertamina is a strategic national asset. Strengthening human resources and healthy industrial relations are key to enabling the company to continue growing and contributing to the national economy,” he said. Meanwhile, Pertamina Deputy CEO Oki Muraza emphasised that occupational safety is an important part of efforts to increase productivity and business sustainability. This is becoming increasingly relevant in line with the national target of increasing oil production to one million barrels per day by 2029. As an implementation of the cooperation, Pertamina and the Ministry of Manpower are running a Training of Trainer programme for the HSSE Passport for instructors at the Ministry’s Vocational Training and Productivity Centres. As of June 2026, the programme has been conducted in Bekasi, Sidoarjo, Semarang, Medan, and Serang. In addition, both parties also simultaneously held HSSE Passport training for 250 Pertamina partner workers. This programme is expected to expand the culture of occupational safety while improving the quality of the workforce involved in the national energy business chain. “This collaboration shows that human resource development cannot be done partially. Synergy between the government and the business sector is an essential element to create a competent workforce, increase industrial productivity, and strengthen the competitiveness of the Indonesian economy amid ever-changing global dynamics,” Oki concluded.