What support did Korea announce for young job seekers in 2026?

The finance ministry said the plan centers on job training matched to labor market demand, support for entering the labor market, and help with career development after employment. It also includes mentoring through a new Youth Playground platform and the Jump-Up program.

Why is Korea introducing a new youth employment blueprint now?

The government said young people face three major problems: employers preferring experienced workers, too few jobs with competitive working conditions, and prolonged career gaps after the COVID-19 pandemic. It also pointed to persistent economic uncertainty and a large number of young people still classified as just resting.

Korea vows tailored support for youth employment amid job market challenges

Q: What job creation targets did Korea set for youth employment by 2030?

The government aims to train 300,000 skilled workers by 2030 and create 200,000 jobs in the private and public sectors for workers trained under its programs. It also plans to foster workers in emerging sectors covered by its three mega-project initiatives.

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Summary

Korea vowed Friday in Sejong to provide tailored support for young people’s job searches and career development amid weak employment conditions for those in their 20s. The finance ministry unveiled a blueprint to revive youth employment as economic uncertainty and a high number of young people classified as just resting persist. The government said it will train 300,000 skilled workers by 2030, create 200,000 jobs, and launch a new Youth Playground platform.

Key Facts

The employment rate for people aged 20 to 24 was 41.3 percent in the second quarter, compared with 43.6 percent in the 2025 average.
The employment rate for those aged 25 to 29 stood at 71.5 percent, slightly below last year’s 71.8 percent.
The number of people aged 15 to 29 classified as just resting was 378,000 in the second quarter, down 28,000 from a year earlier.
The government said it will train 300,000 skilled workers in fields favored by young people by 2030, including cutting-edge industries tied to its three mega-project initiatives.
The plan also includes creating 200,000 jobs by 2030 in the private and public sectors and expanding the Jump-Up program for mentoring and training.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 28, 2026 4:56 pm KST

Job seekers attend a career seminar during a recruitment fair at a university in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

SEJONG — Korea vowed to provide comprehensive support for young people, from job searches to career development, the finance ministry said Friday, amid persistent employment challenges facing those in their 20s.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy unveiled a blueprint for revitalizing youth employment as younger job seekers continue to face difficulties amid economic uncertainty.

Government data showed the employment rate for those aged 20 to 24 came to 41.3 percent in the second quarter, compared with the 2025 average of 43.6 percent, while the rate for those aged 25 to 29 stood at 71.5 percent, compared with 71.8 percent last year.

The measures came as the number of people classified as "just resting" remained high. The data ministry defines the group as those who are not seeking work and report that they are resting despite having no serious illness or disability.

The number of young people aged 15 to 29 classified as "just resting" stood at 378,000 in the second quarter, down 28,000 from a year earlier but still remaining high.

Under the blueprint, the government said it will seek to address three major challenges facing young people, namely businesses' growing preference for experienced workers over new hires, a lack of jobs offering competitive working conditions and prolonged career gaps following the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The plan centers on providing job training tailored to labor market demand, fostering skilled workers in emerging sectors and facilitating young people's job searches and entry into the labor market," the finance ministry said.

"We will reduce mismatches in wages and working conditions and create quality jobs preferred by young people," it added. "Even after they find employment, the government will work to improve their working conditions and help them develop the skills needed for further growth."

Specifically, the government will train 300,000 skilled workers in fields favored by young people by 2030, including cutting-edge industries covered by the country's three mega-project initiatives, which center on strengthening the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

The country will establish a new platform dubbed "Youth Playground" to offer mentoring and other employment-related opportunities. The government said it will create 200,000 jobs by 2030 in the private and public sectors for workers trained under its programs.

Other measures include the Jump-Up program, which will offer young employees mentoring and expanded training opportunities, eventually helping them move from smaller companies to larger businesses.

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