JAKARTA | INDATANEWS.COM - Indonesian Manpower Minister Yassierli said the 2026 Indonesian Standard Classification of Occupations (Klasifikasi Baku Jabatan Indonesia/KBJI) could serve as a common reference for managing and structuring the national and regional labor markets. In addition to organizing occupational information domestically, the 2026 KBJI also establishes an internationally compatible and comparable occupational classification standard, as it was developed with reference to the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO).
Yassierli made the statement during the launch of the KBJI organized by Statistics Indonesia, or Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS), in Jakarta on Friday, September 18, 2026. He said the KBJI update represents an important step in ensuring that the
occupational classification continues to reflect the dynamics of a
labor market that is constantly changing.
The 2026 KBJI is an update of the 2014 KBJI. In preparing the latest classification, the Ministry of Manpower and BPS worked with various ministries and technical agencies. They contributed technical input on the development and transformation of occupations within their respective economic and activity sectors.
Updating the Classification to Reflect Emerging Occupations
Yassierli explained that the preparation of the 2026 KBJI was not merely a revision of the previous document. The government incorporated various technical inputs so that the occupational classification could provide a more comprehensive and detailed picture of Indonesia's labor market.
"This KBJI is not simply a document. It contains complete and detailed occupational information classified according to international standards. We already had the 2014 document. We then collected input from the technical ministries, processed it again, and ultimately there were many changes compared with the 2014 document. That process resulted in the 2026 KBJI,"
Yassierli said.
He emphasized that the rapid transformation of the world of work requires the government to ensure that the occupational classification continues to meet industry needs. The emergence of new occupations, changing competency requirements, and transformations in work arrangements are among the developments that need to be reflected in the national occupational classification.
For this reason,
Yassierli called for the KBJI to be updated regularly. He said the government should not have to wait a decade before making adjustments if developments in occupations require the classification to be revised sooner.
"We have a responsibility to ensure that the KBJI becomes increasingly responsive and adaptable. A revision should not have to wait until ten years have passed," he said.
Yassierli also highlighted the importance of digitizing the KBJI. He said providing
occupational classification information in digital form would make it easier for the public to access the information while expanding its use among various stakeholders.
Digitization can also support the use of the KBJI within a labor ecosystem that is increasingly connected to technology. Easy access to occupational information can help companies, job seekers, government agencies, and educational institutions better understand changes in labor market requirements.
2026 KBJI TO RESPOND TO OCCUPATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS: Manpower Minister
Yassierli explains that the 2026 KBJI needs to become increasingly responsive and adaptable to the development of occupations and changes in the world of work. (PHOTO: Press and Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Manpower/Kemnaker)
A Common Language for Industry
According to
Yassierli, the KBJI can serve as a common language for industry in recruitment processes and organizational structuring. A unified classification standard enables companies to communicate information about occupations and jobs more clearly and systematically.
The use of a standardized classification can also improve communication between companies and job seekers. Information concerning the name, group, and characteristics of a particular occupation can be conveyed using measurable and consistent references. This can help reduce differences in understanding regarding available positions.
The KBJI also plays a role in shaping the
labor market at both the national and regional levels. The government can use the classification to map the structure of different occupations, while companies can use it when planning workforce requirements and organizational structures.
Yassierli stressed that the benefits of the KBJI are not limited to grouping occupations. The classification is also linked to the provision of labor market information, which can help monitor changes in workforce demand over time.
Labor market data collected through the National Labor Force Survey (Survei Angkatan Kerja Nasional/Sakernas) uses the
occupational classification as one of its references for presenting information on employment and occupations. Through this data, the government can monitor the development of various occupations found in Indonesia.
"We can see how the KBJI can create benefits through the results of the Sakernas survey: Which occupations did not exist five years ago, and which occupations are growing or developing particularly rapidly?" he said.
2026 KBJI PUBLISHED FOLLOWING JOINT CONSULTATIONS:
BPS Head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti explains that the 2026 KBJI was issued through
BPS Regulation Number 7 of 2026 following joint consultations with the Ministry of Manpower. (PHOTO: Press and Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Manpower/Kemnaker)
Occupational Information Supports Skills Development
Yassierli said the use of Sakernas data together with the KBJI can help the government and other stakeholders better understand changes in Indonesia's occupational structure. The data can show which occupations are growing, developing particularly rapidly, or emerging as new fields of work.
This information can then serve as a basis for the government in formulating labor market policies. Companies can use it to better assess workforce requirements, while educational and training institutions can align their learning and training programs with the competencies required by the labor market.
"This allows us to identify the competency requirements of these occupations and then adjust skills development, competency improvement, and ultimately certification to changes in the world of work," he explained.
Under this approach, the 2026 KBJI serves not only as a document for classifying occupations. The government also views it as one of the instruments for connecting occupational information with skills requirements, competency development, and workforce certification.
Meanwhile,
BPS Head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti said the 2026 KBJI was issued through
BPS Regulation Number 7 of 2026. The regulation was established on September 8, 2026, and promulgated on September 14, 2026.
Amalia said BPS developed the 2026 KBJI together with the Ministry of Manpower through a series of intensive consultations. The process was intended to ensure that the resulting occupational classification accurately represents the development of occupations in Indonesia while remaining adaptable to changes in the world of work.
The publication of the 2026 KBJI is part of the government's efforts to provide an
occupational classification standard that can be used more broadly. By aligning the classification with international standards, the KBJI also establishes a framework that enables Indonesian occupational information to be aligned and compared with global
occupational classifications.
The update also creates opportunities for various stakeholders to make more integrated use of occupational information. The government can use it for labor market policies, companies for organizational purposes and recruitment, and educational institutions as one of their references when preparing workers to meet changing labor market requirements.
Through broader adoption and digital support, the 2026 KBJI is expected to keep pace with the continuing transformation of the world of work. The government will also need to continue developing the classification regularly so that it can appropriately respond to the emergence of new occupations and changing competency requirements across various economic sectors.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala