International Journal of Islamic Economics (IJIE)
Vol 8 No 01 (2026): International Journal of Islamic Economics

Education and Enterprise Empowerment: The Mediating Role of Digital Skills among Indonesian Micro- Small Entrepreneurs

Afif Zaerofi (Universitas Islam Tazkia, Bogor, Indonesia)
Aminah Nuriyah (Universitas Islam Tazkia, Bogor, Indonesia)
Shofi Arofatul Marits (Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam (STAI) Al-Fatah Cileungsi, Bogor, Indonesia)
Abdullah Haidar (Süleyman Demirel University)



Article Info

Publish Date
29 Jun 2026

Abstract

Objective: Education and digital skills are increasingly recognized as key resources for strengthening entrepreneurial capacity and business sustainability. This study examines the influence of education on Micro- Small Entrepreneurs empowerment and investigates the mediating role of digital skills among micro-small entrepreneurs in Indonesia. Method: This study employed a quantitative approach using Structural Equation Modelling Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). Data were collected from 108 valid micro-small entrepreneurs operating in the food, fashion, and retail sectors across West Java Province, Indonesia. The proposed model assessed the relationships among education, digital skills, and Micro- Small Entrepreneurs empowerment. Results: The results indicate that education has a positive and significant effect on digital skills and Micro- Small Entrepreneurs empowerment. Digital skills also significantly enhance Micro- Small Entrepreneurs' empowerment. Furthermore, digital skills partially mediate the relationship between education and Micro- Small Entrepreneurs empowerment, suggesting that educational attainment contributes to entrepreneurial empowerment both directly and indirectly through improved digital capabilities. Implications: The findings highlight the importance of strengthening entrepreneurship education and digital literacy programs to foster inclusive and sustainable Micro- Small Entrepreneurs development. Policymakers, educational institutions, and development agencies should prioritize initiatives that simultaneously enhance educational attainment and digital competencies among micro-entrepreneurs. Originality or Novelty: This study extends the Micro- Small Entrepreneurs empowerment literature by integrating education and digital skills within a single analytical framework and empirically demonstrating the mediating role of digital skills in explaining how education translates into entrepreneurial empowerment among Indonesian micro-small enterprises.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

IJIE

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

International Journal of Islamic Economics accepts manuscripts whose topics are in range of economic fields and employs standard economics analysis tools focusing on issues pertaining to Philosophy of Islamic Economics, Islamic Economic Thought, Islamic Economics and Contemporary Issues and Islamic ...