'I feel sorry toward my parents': Youth job market remains a needle's eye
Koo, 28, who works on a contract basis at a large company, is growing anxious as the end of his contract approaches. Since his position does not offer the possibility of becoming a regular employee, he knows he must secure a job during the second half of this year. Until now, he has applied only to companies he really wanted to work for, but he is now prepared to consider any employer, including…
Koo, a 28-year-old contract worker at a major company, is increasingly worried as his contract nears its end. With no prospect of transitioning to a permanent position, he faces the daunting task of finding employment before the second half of the year. Until now, Koo had only applied to companies he genuinely admired, but now he is willing to consider any potential employer, even startups.
"The number of job postings this year appears to have dropped by half compared to last year," Koo remarked. "I feel empathy for my parents, and I don't want to return home for Chuseok." For young job seekers, Chuseok may not be the most welcome holiday. Despite Korea's economy boasting its highest growth rate ever, fueled by semiconductor exports, the path to employment for young people has become increasingly narrow, akin to a needle's eye.
This challenging situation has left many young individuals reluctant to face their families during this time of year. Government statistics reveal that the employment rate among individuals aged 16 to 29 in August stands at a concerning level.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
