<![CDATA[This study examines the role of career guidance systems in enhancing workforce readiness within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Increasing global challenges such as skills mismatch, youth unemployment, and rapid digital transformation have intensified the need for effective career guidance as a bridge between education and labor market demands. However, significant disparities remain across countries in how career guidance is structured and implemented. This study addresses the research question on how career guidance systems in Germany, Japan, and Indonesia contribute to workforce readiness, and what best practices can be identified. This study contributes to the literature by offering a comparative and integrative perspective on career guidance systems, moving beyond fragmented approaches that focus solely on employability or training systems. It proposes a novel framework that integrates institutional, cultural, and guidance dimensions to explain workforce readiness in TVET. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted following the PRISMA framework, analyzing 32 peer-reviewed articles sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect (2020–2025). The study employed bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and thematic comparative analysis to identify key patterns across the selected countries. The findings reveal three dominant models: a system-driven approach in Germany characterized by strong industry integration, a culture-driven approach in Japan shaped by organizational values, and an emerging, fragmented system in Indonesia. Career guidance is identified as a critical intermediary mechanism linking education systems and labor market outcomes. The study concludes that workforce readiness is shaped by the interaction of institutional structures, cultural contexts, and career guidance systems. It highlights the need for integrated, industry-aligned, and data-driven career guidance frameworks, particularly in developing countries, to improve employability and reduce skills mismatch.]]>
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