The transmission of vocational skills in informal sectors remains a critical yet underexplored dimension of labor sustainability in developing economies. This study investigates the intergenerational inheritance of construction-related skills among workers in Indonesia through an ethnographic lens. Grounded in qualitative research paradigms, the study explores how socio-cultural norms, experiential learning, and informal apprenticeship structures facilitate the continuity of vocational competencies across generations. Drawing upon established frameworks of learning-by-doing and informal education systems, the research develops a socio-cultural model explaining skill transmission dynamics. Data interpretation reveals that familial lineage, community-based learning environments, and embodied practice significantly shape vocational knowledge continuity. The findings contribute to theoretical discussions on informal learning systems and offer policy implications for strengthening vocational education frameworks. The study also critically evaluates limitations associated with informal apprenticeship systems, including skill standardization challenges and vulnerability to economic shifts.

Ethnography, vocational skills, intergenerational transmission,, informal apprenticeship

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