TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coinciding with this year’s Kartini Day, UN Women and LinkedIn have officially launched the "Link Women" program in Indonesia, an initiative aimed at closing the gender gap in the workplace by equipping women with in-demand skills, expanding their professional networks, and improving access to job opportunities.Launched on Wednesday, April 23, the program is part of a broader regional collaboration between UN Women and LinkedIn, following a successful implementation in India.Now in Indonesia, it aims to reach at least 2,000 women, including new workforce entrants and those returning to the job market, by offering targeted training and support in an increasingly digital economy shaped by Artificial Intelligence (AI).According to government labor data, Indonesia continues to struggle with gender disparity in employment. As of 2024, only 56.4 percent of women participate in the labor force, compared to 84.7 percent of men.Limited access to technology, professional development, and support networks, along with persistent social norms such as caregiving roles, continue to hinder women's participation in the formal economy.These barriers are especially significant for women who take career breaks for marriage or childbirth. The Australia-Indonesia Partnership for Economic Governance (AIPEG) reports that 1.7 million women aged 20-24 have left the workforce due to life transitions.“Link Women” seeks to address these challenges by offering 1) training in digital and soft skills, including AI literacy and digital marketing; 2) improved access to job opportunities through professional networking; 3) mentorship, leadership development, and gender equality awareness through community-based activities such as campus roadshows in Jakarta, Banten, and West Java; 4) a self-paced online learning platform and LinkedIn training to help women build their personal brand and professional presenceLinkedIn will leverage its platform and insights from a global network of over 1.1 billion professionals and nearly 70 million companies to support Indonesian women in building visibility, showcasing skills, and unlocking career opportunities."As AI transforms the future of work, LinkedIn has an opportunity to help women become more prepared for the digital economy," said Lanny Wijaya, Head of New Business at LinkedIn Indonesia."We are proud to partner with UN Women to invest in skills development and open access to economic opportunities for more Indonesian women."UN Women will connect program participants with companies and business associations aligned with the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), ensuring equal access to learning and job opportunities."Increasing women's participation in the labor market means empowering them with both digital literacy and adaptive leadership," said Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Indonesia Representative and Liaison to ASEAN."This partnership with LinkedIn helps us reach more young women and job seekers with the tools they need to succeed."The Link Women program will officially launch on May 15, 2025, with an online event hosted from 10:00 to 11:30 AM WIB (Western Indonesia Time). The event will be accessible via Zoom and streamed live on Skilvul’s YouTube channel.This strategic collaboration is expected to drive progress toward gender equality, workforce development, and inclusive economic growth in Indonesia and across the region.Editor’s Choice: Indonesian Women's Alliance Warns TNI Law Could Trigger Women's Collective TraumaClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News