<![CDATA[This study examines the employment acceptance gap between SMK (vocational high school) and S1 (university) graduates across industrial sectors in Indonesia. BPS data shows that the open unemployment rate for SMK graduates is higher than that of S1 graduates, even though SMK is designed to produce job-ready workers. This mixed-method study uses secondary data from BPS and the Ministry of Manpower, as well as semi-structured interviews with five HRD practitioners from manufacturing, services, logistics, retail, and technology sectors. The findings indicate that the gap is caused by skills mismatch, low soft skills among SMK graduates, and limited industry linkages. In contrast, S1 graduates are considered more adaptable in cognitive and communication skills, although not always in technical skills. The study highlights the need for vocational education reform, including curriculum improvement, industry-based competency certification, and stronger collaboration between government, schools, and industries to improve SMK graduates’ employability and reduce the unemployment gap.]]>
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