The COVID-19 Pandemic: Are There Still Work Opportunities for Vocational High School (SMK) Graduates? (Case Study of the Riau Islands Province)

This study explores job opportunities for graduates of Vocational High Schools (SMK) in the Province Riau islands during the COVID-19 pandemic. By highlighting the impact of social distancing policies on labor market dynamics, this study provides an important foundation for understanding the challenges and opportunities faced by vocational high school graduates in the area.

This report is part of a study to map strategic issues related to employment during the pandemic. Using BPS and Sakernas data from 2017–2021 and the Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis method, this study reveals that vocational high school graduates have great potential to be absorbed in four main sectors, namely construction, wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle repair, transportation and warehousing, and government administration and social security.

This research report also offers policy recommendations for the Riau Islands Provincial Government, such as strengthening cooperation between vocational schools and the business world, developing a curriculum that is relevant to the market, and establishing a job market information portal. This study is expected to provide strategic solutions to reduce unemployment among vocational school graduates, both during the pandemic and in post-pandemic conditions. The research results and proposed policies can be accessed through the links below.

Download Documents

Documents will be sent to your email.