South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance has published a government plan to support young people from training and entry into their first job through longer-term career development. By 2030, the plan aims to train more than 300,000 people for advanced industries and fields preferred by young workers, create over 200,000 private and public sector jobs, and develop more than 100,000 young entrepreneurs. Measures include a new first-employment support program covering young people without prior work experience, an expanded job-seeking allowance and a platform matching trained candidates with employment, projects and startup opportunities. The government will broaden hiring subsidies, raising the maximum payment to young workers from KRW 7.2 million to KRW 18 million over two years, and introduce training, mentoring and a Career Bank consolidating qualifications and work histories. For young people joining regional small and midsize enterprises, combined employment, savings and cultural benefits are intended to provide support worth about KRW 1 million a month for two years. Detailed funding levels and implementation schedules will be set out in the forthcoming 2027 budget proposal.
2026-08-28Ministry of Economy & Finance (South Korea)
South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance unveils youth employment plan targeting 300,000 skilled workers, 200,000 jobs and 100,000 young entrepreneurs by 2030
South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance has unveiled a youth employment plan targeting more than 300,000 trained workers, 200,000 jobs and 100,000 young entrepreneurs by 2030. It expands first-job support, hiring incentives, job matching and career development, with regional small and midsize enterprise employees eligible for combined benefits worth about KRW 1 million a month for two years. Further details will be provided in the 2027 budget proposal.