Ministry of Manpower aims to add 19 vocational training centres by 2027
Serang, Banten - The government will add between 15 and 19 new vocational training centres by 2027 as a strategic step to strengthen the national workforce competency development ecosystem.
“Next year, we will add approximately 15-19 new vocational training centres. Consequently, we will eventually have around 50-60 centres in Indonesia,” stated the Minister of Manpower, Yassierli, while attending the opening of the 4th Batch of National Vocational Training 2026 at the Serang Vocational Training and Productivity Centre (BBPVP) in Banten, on Tuesday.
Currently, the Ministry of Manpower manages 40 centres, ranging from Large Training Centres and Training Centres to Implementation Units (Satpel).
The expansion of these facilities is part of a grand vision to reach at least 1 million people who will receive adequate competency training through the state’s presence.
This step is considered crucial to making vocational training a game changer in addressing the phenomenon of the skill gap.
Referring to World Economic Forum data, 54 per cent of companies in Indonesia still face difficulties in finding job candidates with skills that meet industrial market needs.
To address this challenge, the Ministry of Manpower is transforming the training model from being supply-driven to demand-driven through a tailored training (TMT) scheme.
“Through this pattern, industry is actively involved, from curriculum design to the graduate recruitment process, to ensure the resulting workforce is truly ready for use,” he explained.
While preparing for the expansion of centres in 2027, the Ministry of Manpower is currently focused on achieving a target of 330,000 training participants by 2026. This target represents a significant increase from the initial capacity of approximately 70,000 people, thanks to additional budget support from the President.
Training participants receive facilities free of charge, including a daily allowance of Rp50,000 and a competency certificate from the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP) as proof of competitiveness in the labour market.
Priority training fields include welding, green skills, smart operations, agroforestry, AI digital skills, hospitality, and manufacturing.
The Governor of Banten, Andra Soni, who also attended the event, expressed his support for the strengthening of vocational facilities.
He assessed that vocational training is both a basic necessity and a bridge that connects the needs of the industrial world with labour potential.
The existence of the BBPVP Serang is viewed as an important part of building a competent human resource ecosystem in Banten Province.
“This serves as a momentum to strengthen the synergy between the central and regional governments in preparing a productive and competitive workforce,” he said.