Indonesia's Labor Ministry opens 150,000 internship slots for 2026

The Ministry of Labor announced the 2026 National Internship Program (PMN) with 150,000 positions for recent university graduates, placed with about 8,000 partners from the private sector, state‑owned enterprises and government agencies. Participants will receive a stipend equal to the local minimum wage, BPJS coverage and a nationally recognised competency certificate.

Minister Yassierli urged graduates, especially in Southeast Sulawesi, to acquire skills aligned with emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation, green jobs and the creative industry. He highlighted that more than 80 % of companies report difficulty finding suitably skilled workers, while roughly 36 % of employees experience a skills‑mismatch.

The government is shifting to a skills‑first labour market, promoting modular learning, micro‑credentials and recognition of prior learning to better match industry needs. In parallel, the Ministry of Finance opened its own 2026 internship programme, requiring a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a competitive selection process, offering participants practical experience in finance and a pathway to civil‑service careers.