▲ This file photo, taken Nov. 6, 2025, shows a job fair in Seoul. (Yonhap)

govt-young job seekers

Gov't to support 100,000 young job seekers through conglomerate-led vocational training program

By Kim Han-joo

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- The government on Wednesday announced a set of support measures for young job seekers, including a new vocational training program led by major conglomerates.

The plan, announced by Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, is expected to benefit a total of 100,000 young people, with a combined investment of 800 billion won (US$541 million), the finance ministry said.

The move comes amid South Korea's chronically poor youth employment numbers. In the first quarter of this year, the employment rate for young people stood at 43.5 percent, the lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, the number of unemployed youths in their 20s and 30s reached 1.71 million, the ministry said.

Under the plan, major conglomerates, such as Samsung Group and Hyundai Motor, will newly open vocational training programs in the artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor sectors, among others, the ministry said.

The programs will prioritize vulnerable youth, including long-term unemployed individuals aged between 15 and 34, according to the ministry.

"Participation is expected from not only the top 10 conglomerates but also from up to the top 30 business groups," said Lee Joo-sueb, a ministry official.

Lee said the training programs will last at least 400 hours, or over three months, and companies have so far expressed interest in training around 12,000 participants.

The government will provide work experience opportunities for 23,000 young people across both the public and private sectors, allowing them to gain practical skills while building their careers.

A recovery program supporting reentry into society and the workplace will be provided to 11,000 people, helping them from counseling through to employment, the ministry added.

Through a redesign of employment support programs, the government will facilitate job searches and employment for another 44,000 young people, the ministry added.

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