National Internship Programme Attracts 300,000 Applicants, Ministry Prepares 150,000 Slots
JAKARTA – Manpower Minister Yassierli said registrations for the second cohort, first phase of the 2026 National Internship Programme (MagangeHub) have reached 300,000 graduates competing for 50,000 available places. The high number of applicants reflects the enthusiasm of university graduates for a programme prepared by the government to boost their competencies while widening access to the national workforce and industry.
“Today is the last day (28/7, ed.) of internship registration for graduates who completed their studies within the past year. There are 50,000 positions available, and 300,000 have already registered. This is extraordinary, and this is only batch one,” Yassierli said after opening the AI Career Boost Day 2026 job fair in Jakarta on Tuesday (28/7/2026).
He explained that the 50,000 quota is the first phase of the National Internship Programme 2026, which has a total capacity of 150,000 participants delivered in stages across three waves.
The government has divided the programme into three phases, each providing a quota of 50,000 participants. Opportunities therefore remain open for those who do not pass the first phase.
Yassierli urged participants not selected in the first phase to enter the second and third selection rounds, as the government is committed to optimising the programme’s capacity according to the quotas already set.
“For those who have not yet secured an internship place in batch one, we encourage them to join batch two and batch three,” he said.
He also asked prospective participants to assess their internship prospects realistically by considering the level of competition at each company before choosing where to take part in the programme.
According to Yassierli, information on the number of applicants at each company can serve as a reference for participants to gauge their chances, allowing them to choose locations where competition is more balanced.
The Ministry of Manpower is also encouraging participants to take up internships in their own regions, as the chances of acceptance are generally higher than at companies located in highly competitive areas.
He expressed hope that this strategy would distribute internship participants more evenly across the regions, so that the programme’s benefits are not concentrated in Jakarta alone but also reach industrial needs across Indonesia.