Developing a Conceptual Framework of Digital Literacy as a Strengthening Mechanism for Generation Z’s Work Readiness through Skill Competency in Jakarta Vocational High Schools

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-811-5_19How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Digital Literacy; Generation Z; Skill Competency; Vocational high school (SMK); Work Readiness

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital technology in the Industry 4.0 era has significantly changed workforce requirements. Companies today no longer seek graduates who only master technical skills. They also expect vocational high school graduates to have strong communication skills, problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and adaptability. However, many SMK graduates in Indonesia still struggle to enter the workforce. This shows a gap between what is taught in schools and what is needed by industries. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework to explain how digital literacy can strengthen the influence of skill competency on the work readiness of Generation Z students in vocational high schools in Jakarta. A Systematic Literature Review approach based on PRISMA guidelines was used by analyzing 24 articles published from 2021 to 2026. This study is grounded in Human Capital Theory, Employability Theory, and Career Construction Theory. The conceptual analysis found that skill competency has a positive effect on students’ work readiness. In addition, digital literacy acts as a moderating variable that strengthens this relationship. Students with high skill competency and digital literacy are better able to apply their abilities in digital work environments. Therefore, vocational schools and policymakers are encouraged to integrate digital literacy into the curriculum to better prepare SMK graduates for the demands of the digital workplace.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Melvida Dwi Agustya
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/29
TI  - Developing a Conceptual Framework of Digital Literacy as a Strengthening Mechanism for Generation Z’s Work Readiness through Skill Competency in Jakarta Vocational High Schools
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Business, Economic, and Social Sustainability (ICOBES 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 224
EP  - 237
SN  - 2352-5428
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-811-5_19
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-811-5_19
ID  - Agustya2026
ER  -