Link and Match Problem of Vocational School Students on Unemployment Issues: A Comparative Study on Indonesia and Türkiye

Indonesia faces significant challenges with unemployment due to its vast land area and large population, posing a threat to economic stability. Addressing the "Link and Match" problem, this research employs a qualitative approach to analyze unemployment among Indonesian vocational school graduates and includes a comparative study of Türkiye's educational system. The methodology utilized is a descriptive case study. Primary data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 25 alumni from various generations across five Indonesian provinces. The findings reveal that graduates encounter significant skill mismatches and that the current educational infrastructure is insufficient to meet industrial needs. The study concludes that while vocational education is pivotal for reducing unemployment, its effectiveness is hindered by a disconnect between curriculum and labor market demands, a challenge also observed in the Turkish context. Consequently, the research recommends designing curricula that align with market demands, enforcing regulations for collaboration between educational institutions and businesses, and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among youth to mitigate future unemployment.