Minister urges workers to prepare 'future skills' to boost competitiveness

Manpower Minister Yassierli has urged workers to prepare future competencies to improve the competitiveness of Indonesia’s human resources on the regional and global stage.

“We have homework, as future challenges relate to future skills. Many companies are already voicing concerns about the unpreparedness of Indonesia’s human resources in facing technological disruption. We must think about this together,” the minister said during the Konfederasi Serikat Pekerja Indonesia (KSPI) 2026 National Working Meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Yassierli further highlighted that the quality of Indonesia’s workforce remains relatively behind in the Southeast Asian region. Based on World Bank data, Indonesia’s Human Capital Index stands at just 0.54, meaning the potential productivity of the national workforce has only reached about half of its ideal capacity.

“And regarding the Work Digital Competitiveness Index score, we must also continue to improve. Most recently, concerning productivity, we are 20 per cent below the ASEAN average,” he added.

Therefore, he encouraged strengthening cooperation between the government, through the Ministry of Manpower, and the industrial sector, business world, and labour unions.

“The work of the Ministry of Manpower cannot run well and effectively without the support of all stakeholders, including trade unions and labour unions,” Yassierli said.