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South Korea Public Institutions Set Record 28,000 New Hires for 2026

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Hiring Target Announced at Seoul Job Fair The Ministry of Economy and Finance disclosed that state‑run and state‑funded bodies will recruit roughly 28,000 employees in 2026, a rise of about 4,000 from the previous year and the highest level since 2020[1]. The announcement occurred during a job‑fair event in Seoul, where officials directly addressed jobseekers. This figure reflects the government’s commitment to expanding public‑sector employment opportunities.

Internship Slots Expanded to Support Youth Transition Youth internship positions total 24,000, an increase of 3,000 compared with the prior year, and are designed as a pipeline to permanent jobs[1]. The expanded slots aim to broaden early‑career opportunities for young people across the country. Internships are offered by a range of public institutions, providing practical experience and a clear path to full‑time roles.

Recruitment Represents Six‑Year Peak for State Bodies The 2026 hiring drive marks the largest recruitment effort by public institutions in six years, part of a broader strategy to boost job prospects for youth[1]. Officials highlighted the surge as a response to lingering youth unemployment concerns. The scale of hiring underscores the government’s focus on stabilizing the labor market through public‑sector growth.

Finance Minister Positions Youth Employment as Growth Engine Finance Minister Koo Yun‑cheol emphasized that “Youth employment is not just an employment issue but a growth engine that will carry the country’s future and the foundation of hope” during his speech at the job fair[1]. He framed the hiring initiative as essential to economic vitality and long‑term prosperity. The statement signals policy priority for sustained investment in young workers.

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Timeline

1990s – early 2000s – Japan experiences the “employment ice age,” a prolonged stagnation that leaves a generation of workers with lasting earnings penalties and reduced regular‑job prospects; the Bank of Korea cites this episode as a warning for South Korean youth entering a weak labor market. [3]

Nov 19, 2025 – Candidates at a Daejeon job‑fair review public‑institution hiring postings, illustrating the outreach that precedes the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s 2026 recruitment drive. [1]

Dec 9, 2025 – South Korea adds 225,000 jobs in November, lifting total employment to 29.05 million; youth employment falls for the 19th straight month, with the youth employment rate dropping to 44.3 % and a loss of 177,000 jobs among 15‑29‑year‑olds, while health, arts, and workers aged 60 + see gains. [7]

Jan 14, 2026 – National employment data show 193,000 jobs added in 2025, bringing total employment to 28.77 million; construction sheds 125,000 jobs and manufacturing 73,000, whereas health and social‑welfare services gain 237,000, older workers (60 +) rise by 345,000, and youth jobs decline by 170,000. [5]

Jan 18, 2026 – The youth employment rate falls to 60.2 % in 2025—the first year‑on‑year decline since 2020—while 3.44 million people in their 20s are employed, a drop of 170,000; economist Yang Jun‑seok notes a growing tendency to postpone job entry until the 30s. [4]

Jan 19, 2026 – The Bank of Korea’s youth‑economic conditions report finds that a one‑year unemployment spell cuts the five‑year regular‑job probability to 66.1 % (vs. 56.2 % after three years) and reduces current real wages by about 6.7 % per additional year; Lee Jae‑ho calls for labor‑market reforms and more small‑home construction to ease rising rents that push 11.5 % of young renters into sub‑standard housing. [3]

Jan 20, 2026 – The Bank of Korea reports the share of “resting” youths (ages 20‑34) rises to 22.3 % in 2025, with 450,000 young adults explicitly saying they do not want to work; AI‑driven labor‑market changes, employer preference for experience, and sluggish growth are identified as drivers, and stronger incentives are urged to re‑engage this cohort. [2]

Jan 27, 2026 – Finance Minister Koo Yun‑cheol announces at a Seoul job fair that public institutions will hire 28,000 new staff in 2026 and create 24,000 internship slots, the highest hiring level since 2020; he states, “Youth employment is not just an employment issue but a growth engine that will carry the country’s future and the foundation of hope.” [1]

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