PERAN BALAI LATIHAN KERJA DALAM MENINGKATKAN KETERAMPILAN DAN PRODUKTIVITAS MASYARAKAT (Studi Kasus di UPTD. Balai Latihan Kerja Kota Padangsidimpuan)

Abstract

Amid global competition and dynamic economic growth, improving workforce skills has become an absolute necessity. The Job Training Center (Balai Latihan Kerja/BLK) serves as a strategic institution that provides competency-based training to the community, especially for members of the workforce who have not yet been absorbed into the formal employment sector. The UPTD BLK of Padangsidimpuan City is one of the training institutions that plays an important role in developing local human resources, particularly in producing job-ready and productive workers. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of the Padangsidimpuan City Job Training Center in improving community skills and productivity. This research uses a qualitative method, with data collection techniques consisting of observation, interviews, and documentation, employing a descriptive qualitative approach in which the researcher is directly involved in field research. The data analysis technique used in this study is interactive analysis, which includes data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results of the study indicate that the role of the UPTD BLK of Padangsidimpuan City has been good, as evidenced by the fact that 71.4% of training participants were absorbed into employment after completing training at the Job Training Center. Therefore, the UPTD BLK of Padangsidimpuan City has assisted the government in reducing the unemployment rate in the city of Padangsidimpuan. However, further improvement is still needed, as the placement or job distribution of training participants has not yet been carried out comprehensively. Nevertheless, the UPTD Job Training Center of Padangsidimpuan City has been able to improve participants’ skills and productivity. The constraints faced by the UPTD BLK of Padangsidimpuan City consist of four main issues: first, the heterogeneous nature of training participants; second, inadequate training facilities and infrastructure (equipment); third, participants’ motivation; and fourth, the lack of job placement or employment distribution. The actions taken by the UPTD BLK of Padangsidimpuan City include: first, improving the quality of instructors; second, implementing procedures to propose and procure facilities and infrastructure to meet inadequate equipment needs; third, conducting personal approaches; and fourth, increasing cooperation with other parties to absorb all training participants. The UPTD Job Training Center should continue to update its competencies in accordance with labor market needs, balanced with adequate training equipment.