Worried About Youth Unemployment Rising, DPR: Government Must Anticipate Through Capital Assistance

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JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia from the PKS Faction, Kurniasih Mufidayati, admitted that she was worried that online education in the vocational world would not have a maximum impact on mastery of work skills. So according to her, the government must immediately anticipate the increase in the youth unemployment rate.

This is because based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), unemployment aged 20-24 years in February 2021 reached 17.66 percent, an increase of 3.36 percentage points (YoY). Meanwhile, those aged 25-29 years in February 2021 reached 4.94 percent, an increase of 2.26 percent (YoY).

"There are challenges, especially for vocational alumni who are not optimal in mastering practical skills. There must be breakthroughs and innovations in mastering skills that are most needed during a pandemic", Mufida said in a statement, Wednesday, August 1.

Based on education, the highest increase in open unemployment occurred at the SMA/SMK (high school) education level. Unemployment at the high school level reached 8.55 percent, up 1.86 percentage points (YoY). The increase was even greater for the SMK level which reached 11.45 percent, up 3.03 percent (YoY).

Therefore, Mufida considered that apart from skills, it is also necessary to think about a capital assistance scheme or unsecured credit for SMA/SMK alumni so that they can have work tools that can be done, either to open a small business or freelance.

"Now we see the world trend is heading that way. Through the pandemic, we are getting used to working remotely, no longer relying on job vacancies for these young people", said the Jakarta legislator.

 

Mufida assessed that serious attention to the increasing number of youth unemployment is necessary. Because, she said, Indonesia is currently preparing to face the demographic bonus.

"It is necessary to maximize the existing programs at the Ministry of Manpower that is properly monitored and evaluated to overcome the problem of increasing youth unemployment", said Mufida.