<![CDATA[Urban unemployment remains a persistent challenge in Yogyakarta, particularly for people of productive age who have limited access to formal employment and market-relevant skills. This study transformed a master’s thesis into a journal-style article by examining how the Independent Workforce Training (Tenaga Kerja Mandiri/TKM) program was implemented as a community empowerment strategy at PKBM Wijaya Kusuma. Using a descriptive qualitative design, the study drew on interviews, observation, and document analysis involving PKBM managers, local government representatives, instructors, and training participants. Data were analyzed through the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The findings show that the program was implemented through three connected stages: participatory planning based on community demand, practice-oriented training delivery, and reflective evaluation. The training combined hard skills in culinary production, food processing, batik, and ecoprint with soft skills in motivation, entrepreneurship, bookkeeping, marketing, and quality control. Implementation was strengthened by institutional collaboration, competent instructors, and high participant motivation, while limited facilities, weak post-training mentoring, and restricted business partnerships remained important constraints. Overall, the TKM program improved participants’ work skills, confidence, and readiness for self-employment, indicating its value as a nonformal education model that contributes to SDG 8 through employability enhancement and local economic empowerment.]]>
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