“젊을 때 쓰다 버리는 소모품”…직업계고 졸업생 10명 중 6명 부당대우·학력차별

South Korean research has revealed that six out of ten former students from vocational high schools and graduate programs have faced unfair treatment and discrimination in the workplace, primarily due to their educational background. The findings, published after a two-month online survey of 838 graduates between May and July this year, highlight the disparity in salary and promotion opportunities between those with a high school diploma and those with a university degree.

The survey found that the most commonly cited forms of discrimination were wage inequality (282 respondents) and promotion discrimination (224 respondents). Many graduates reported being excluded from promotions or certain work duties based solely on their high school education. One graduate shared that they earned the same salary as a college graduate after five years of employment, while another mentioned that promotion typically takes 2-3 years for university graduates but 7-8 years for high school graduates, despite equal job performance and experience.

Other issues highlighted included unpaid overtime (154 respondents), verbal abuse (118 respondents), statutory holiday pay (91 respondents), and unpaid wages (28 respondents). The survey also found that age played a role in discrimination, with 65.8% of respondents reporting that they were already employed upon graduation and 17.2% starting work within three months of graduation, often at a relatively young age.

Specialized high school graduates noted that they were frequently subjected to hazardous or unpaid work due to their perceived inexperience and lack of knowledge about labor rights. Many graduates felt that their concerns were not adequately addressed by their schools, which provide employment-related training programs that often lead to job placements.

Educational experts warned that while specialized high schools receive government support for vocational training, this funding can influence their employment outcomes, making it difficult for them to effectively protect graduates after they enter the workforce.