A Degree Is No Longer Enough: What Skills Does the Job Market Seek in Management Graduates?

Since the release of a report by the Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM) of the Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Indonesia on university majors with the highest unemployment rates in Indonesia, discussions about unemployment among recent graduates have once again gained attention.

According to the report, Management graduates rank first in terms of their contribution to the number of unemployed graduates, accounting for 10.3 percent of all unemployed university graduates. This raises a question: Is a Bachelor’s degree in Management still relevant amid the changing demands of the job market?

Management Is Among the Most Popular and Widely Offered Fields of Study

Responding to the issue, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at UNU Jogja, Dr. Suhada, explained that Management is one of the most popular fields of study among the public. This is because Management is considered a highly flexible field that can be applied across various sectors, including government, banking and financial services, trade, industry, technology, and entrepreneurship.

This is supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) annual report entitled Higher Education Statistics 2025. The report records Management as the undergraduate field of study with the largest number of students, totaling 1,096,786. It is followed by Primary School Teacher Education, with 544,740 students, and Law, with 395,677 students.

He added that the high demand for Management programs has led almost all higher education institutions in Indonesia to offer Management programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Many graduates with bachelor’s degrees in other fields also choose to pursue a master’s degree in Management.

“In short, the claim that Management graduates account for the largest share of graduates who have not been absorbed into the workforce is understandable because the number of Management graduates is also the highest. Therefore, we need to look more deeply into the data,” he said.

He acknowledged that the situation presents a challenge for both the government and higher education institutions. The government responds through policy, while universities can respond through internal academic policies.

In addition to competing with fellow Management graduates and graduates from other fields, Management graduates also face changes brought about by technological advancement. Therefore, graduates need to develop additional competitive value beyond their core academic competencies, including both soft skills and hard skills.

Universities Are Expected to Adapt to Changing Times

As institutions responsible for producing university graduates, higher education institutions are required to continuously develop new approaches to produce graduates who are adaptable and ready to compete in an increasingly global job market.

In response to these challenges, UNU Jogja seeks to equip Management students not only with academic knowledge but also with practical experience and supporting skills. From the early semesters, students are encouraged to interact directly with MSME owners through various collaborative programs, including a partnership with BTPN Syariah. Through the program, students participate in assisting MSMEs in developing their businesses and increasing their income.

In the classroom, students are not only encouraged to master academic knowledge but are also trained to deal with various situations that require practical skills. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are among the competencies developed to prepare students for the workplace.

Communication skills are further strengthened through foreign language and public speaking training. Meanwhile, practical experience is enhanced through internship programs and the Social Laboratory, which provide students with opportunities to learn how to deal with real-world problems in professional settings.

As they approach graduation and enter the workforce, students also receive guidance to prepare for recruitment processes, including CV writing, job interview simulations, professional certification, and recommendations to partner organizations.

These efforts are part of UNU Jogja’s commitment to strengthening the competitiveness of its graduates, ensuring that students not only understand theories but also possess relevant experience and skills that meet the needs of the job market.

Management Graduates Are Expected to Keep Adapting

Changes in the demands of the job market mean that Management education can no longer stop at theoretical knowledge. Budi Sutiono, a lecturer in the Management Study Program at UNU Jogja, said students need to understand that attending university does not automatically make them ready to enter the workforce. Students also need to independently identify the competencies required by industry and conduct a self-assessment of the skills they already possess.

“University education does not automatically produce students who are ready for work. Students need to understand what the industry requires and then assess themselves to determine which competencies they already have and which ones they still need to develop. Therefore, students must take responsibility for preparing the competencies they need,” he explained.

According to him, one of the challenges students still face is not only a lack of competencies but also limited information about the job market. Students need to know which companies offer career opportunities for Management graduates, what positions are available, and what competencies are required for those positions.

“Students often lack information about where to go after graduation. Therefore, more structured information is needed about companies, industries, career opportunities, and the competencies required. Alumni networks are also important in helping students gain a better understanding of the professional world,” he said.

On the other hand, Budi believes Management graduates have an advantage because the field offers considerable flexibility. Graduates are not limited to a single type of job but have opportunities to pursue careers across various fields. However, this flexibility needs to be accompanied by the ability to adapt and develop more than one competency.

“If there are two people who are both Management graduates and both hold a Bachelor’s degree in Management, what distinguishes them is their competitive value. Management graduates are flexible, capable of doing many things, more versatile, equipped with leadership skills, and more adaptable when seeking and adjusting to job opportunities,” he said.

This flexibility not only allows Management graduates to fill various positions within companies but also gives them room to create opportunities for themselves. According to Budi, Management education should not merely be aimed at producing job seekers. Students should also be equipped with an entrepreneurial mindset so they can identify opportunities and create jobs.

Ultimately, the challenge facing Management graduates is not simply about the availability or scarcity of jobs. Increasingly open competition means that an academic degree needs to go hand in hand with the ability to understand change, solve problems, communicate effectively, utilize technology, and create opportunities.

For higher education institutions, this situation presents an ongoing challenge to continuously align learning with the changing demands of the times. For students, a Bachelor’s degree in Management is no longer the finish line, but rather a starting point for continuously developing their competencies and strengthening their competitive value in the job market.*

Reporter : Latifah