Experience-first hiring leaves more young Koreans in irregular jobs
For Son Ga-hyun, who managed to land a job in textbook development after years of searching, job hunting in Korea had been a slow grind with little to show for it. “Entry-level openings were few and far between, and even internships would be packed with applicants with substantial work experience,” she said. “So even when positions were technically open to candidates with and without experience,…
For Son Ga-hyun, the struggle to find employment in Korea has been a long and arduous journey. After years of searching, she finally secured a position in textbook development, but the job market in the country remains a challenging landscape for young job seekers. Son explains that entry-level openings are scarce, and even internships are inundated with applicants who possess significant work experience.
Despite the fact that some positions are technically open to candidates with or without experience, Son felt that her chances of competing against seasoned professionals were slim. For nearly two years, the 27-year-old relied on part-time teaching jobs to make ends meet.
This experience mirrors a broader trend among young job seekers in South Korea. Nearly half of wage earners aged 15 to 29 are now employed in irregular positions, representing the highest ratio recorded by the Ministry of Data and Statistics since they began tracking the data in 2003. As of August 31, irregular workers accounted for 46 percent of wage earners in this age group, a significantly higher percentage than the 38.5 percent found among all wage earners. The trend suggests a shift in the hiring culture within the country.
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.
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- Experience-first hiring leaves more young Koreans in irregular jobs koreatimes.co.kr
