Strengthening the competencies of university graduates is crucial to meeting the needs of the labor market
Minister of Labor Yassierli emphasized that strengthening the competencies of university graduates is a crucial part of meeting the ever-changing needs of the labor market.
According to him, the quality of education must be continuously improved, including through a STEM approach (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), so that graduates possess competencies that are increasingly relevant to the needs of the business sector.
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Minister Yassierli stated this during the opening of the annual meeting of the Indonesian Institute of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (AMLI) in Jakarta on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
The minister indicated that President Prabowo Subianto also emphasized the importance of strengthening STEM education as a basis for the development of human capital that can keep pace with technological developments and meet the needs of the business sector.
“There is still a discrepancy between the competencies of graduates and the demands of the labor market, including a skills gap between job seekers and the needs of the business community. Therefore, various efforts to improve the quality of graduates must be continuously intensified to close this gap,” stated the Minister of Labor.
The Minister of Labor expressed his appreciation for the ongoing efforts of the deans to promote coordination and synergy to improve the quality of education.
According to him, this collaboration is a positive step towards training graduates with competencies that align with the needs of the labor market.
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“This is a very positive step and deserves support. Cooperation between universities in training high-quality graduates will make a substantial contribution to improving the quality of the Indonesian workforce,” he said.
Furthermore, the Minister of Labor estimated that graduates in mathematics and natural sciences have broad career opportunities in various sectors, because mastery of science forms a crucial basis for the development of STEM subjects. Therefore, the curriculum must be continuously evaluated to equip students with analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and the competencies required by the labor market.
“Strong basic competencies are essential for the Indonesian workforce to adapt to changes in the labor market and increase the country’s competitiveness,” he said. ***REL
