JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry assesses that industrial workers are not enough to rely on old expertise in the midst of factory digitization. Reskilling and upskilling are urgent needs so that manufacturing labor is not left behind by automation and industry 4.0.
Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said strengthening industrial human resources was a requirement to maintain national manufacturing performance.
"The manufacturing industry has consistently been the main driving force of the national economy. Therefore, we must continue to accelerate the strengthening of industrial human resources through vocational education, industry-based training, and mastery of digital technology," said Agus in a statement in Jakarta, Friday, May 1, coinciding with International Labor Day.
Agus said the Ministry of Industry carried out vocational education through 11 polytechnics, 2 community academies, and 9 vocational schools in various regions. In 2025, the vocational education unit of the Ministry of Industry produced 5,472 graduates according to the needs of the manufacturing industry.
Training was also held through 7 Industrial Training Centers. Throughout 2025, a total of 1,362 people were trained, certified, and placed to work through the skilling, upskilling, and reskilling programs.
The Ministry of Industry also facilitated 3,969 prospective workers through the National Internship Program at industrial companies and ministry agencies.
Outside of ready-to-work workers, the Ministry of Industry's BPSDMI has nurtured 37 business tenants through the Industrial Training Center incubator. This program absorbed 212 new workers and recorded a turnover of Rp. 11.5 billion.
Agus emphasized that the digital transformation of the industry is not enough to just buy machines and technology. Workers must be prepared to be able to follow the changes in the production process.
"Reskilling and upskilling programs are a priority so that our workforce remains relevant and competitive," he said. The Ministry of Industry data recorded that the workforce in the non-oil and gas processing industry rose from 15.49 million people in 2015 to 20.26 million people in August 2025.
Head of BPSDMI Doddy Rahadi said that the absorption of vocational graduates from the Ministry of Industry in 2025 reached 68 percent immediately after graduation and was projected to be 100 percent in six months.
BPSDMI also works with 48 Professional Certification Institutions and opens industry classes with domestic and foreign companies, including for placement in South Korea and Japan.
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