South Korea Launches Youth Jobs Task Force After 255,000 May Drop, Expands AI Training
Updated
Updated · asiae.co.kr · Jun 23
South Korea Launches Youth Jobs Task Force After 255,000 May Drop, Expands AI Training
2 articles · Updated · asiae.co.kr · Jun 23
Summary
Seoul on June 23 convened an inter-ministerial jobs task force to draft a Youth Employment Recovery Plan, with sector-specific measures to be rolled out sequentially.
255,000 fewer people aged 15 to 29 were employed in May than a year earlier—the steepest drop since January 2021—as youth employment fell for a 43rd straight month and the rate slid 2.4 points to 43.8%.
The plan centers on quickly scaling proven programs, linking AI and other advanced-field training to actual hiring, and adding incentives for companies to recruit more young workers.
Work-experience schemes are also set to expand, including a roughly three-month social-value program that gives unemployed youth on-site training while subsidizing participant and mentor allowances.
Officials tied the push to broader economic and livelihood strains, saying a public-private council and a Social Value Center will help recruit employers, monitor quality and spread best practices.
Can government programs reach South Korea's growing number of 'resting youth' who have already abandoned the job market?
Could embracing more migrant labor be the surprising key to boosting youth employment in South Korea?
As the Iran War disrupts chip supplies, can an AI-focused jobs plan solve South Korea's youth unemployment crisis?
South Korea’s Youth Employment Crisis: 12.8 Months to First Job and the Urgent Search for Solutions (2026)
Overview
South Korea is facing a deepening youth employment crisis, with young people feeling increasingly discouraged as they struggle to find jobs. Recent data shows that those born between 1995 and 1999 now take an average of 12.77 months to secure their first job, a significant increase compared to previous generations. This longer job search delays entry into the workforce and adds financial and psychological stress. As a result, many young people see traditional goals like homeownership as out of reach, highlighting growing inequalities and the urgent need for effective solutions.