Aceh – Indonesia, Banda Aceh (Waspada Aceh) – The Pelangi Kesejahteraan Masyarakat Foundation (YPKM) Aceh has highlighted the region’s unemployment issue, urging the government to enhance youth capacity and ensure that economic growth translates into job creation.
Secretary of YPKM Aceh, Syahrul Razi, stated that addressing unemployment requires more than relying on economic growth. He stressed that the government must ensure available jobs are accessible to the public, particularly those in the productive age group.
“Unemployment must be viewed more broadly, ranging from job availability and workforce skills to aligning education with the demands of the labor market,” Syahrul told Waspadaaceh.com on Wednesday (30/9/2026).
Syahrul made these remarks in response to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) Aceh, which recorded Aceh’s Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) at 5.89% in May 2026. This percentage represents approximately 157,480 people out of the 2.67 million labor force.
According to him, the figure indicates that a significant number of Aceh’s population still lacks employment and a decent income.
Consequently, the government is urged to not only attract investment but also ensure incoming investments absorb local labor.
“Investment should not be measured merely by its monetary value, but also by its actual impact on absorbing local workers,” he said.
Beyond job creation, YPKM believes that upskilling job seekers requires serious attention. Expanding job training, vocational education, competency certification, and entrepreneurship programs is considered essential.
This initiative is crucial so that job seekers do not rely solely on academic diplomas when entering the job market.
Syahrul also pointed out Aceh’s employment structure. Based on BPS data, 62.12% of workers in Aceh are in the informal sector, while formal workers account for 37.88%.
“This condition shows that there is still vast room to strengthen community business sectors so they can expand and create new jobs,” he said.
According to Syahrul, sectors that serve as Aceh’s economic backbone—such as agriculture, fisheries, trade, and industry—must be developed so they not only generate income but also create more employment opportunities.
Developing these sectors can be achieved by enhancing access to capital, business mentoring, technology utilization, marketing strategies, and strengthening ties between business actors, the government, and financing institutions.
Youth Need Special Attention
YPKM also urged the government to give special attention to the youth demographic, as many young graduates lack the work experience or skills aligned with market demands.
Syahrul stated that collaboration among educational institutions, the government, the business sector, and social organizations needs to be strengthened.
“Education and training should not operate in isolation; they must align with the actual demands of the job market,” he remarked.
He added that tackling unemployment must be a collective agenda. The government plays a role through policies and creating a favorable business climate, the business sector opens up job opportunities, and educational institutions enhance workforce competencies.
Furthermore, local communities must be empowered to create independent economic opportunities.
“Reducing the unemployment rate should not be merely a statistical target, but must be accompanied by more Acehnese securing jobs, earning an income, and improving their families’ welfare,” he explained. (*)