Job Seekers Blocked from Employment, Exams, and Part-Time Jobs Due to COVID-19

Impact of COVID-19... Job Market Comes to a Complete Halt
Job Seekers Deprived of Company Applications... Deepening Sighs

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] The job market is also being hit as the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads. For the first time ever, civil service exams have been postponed, and public institutions and large corporations are consecutively delaying their recruitment schedules, deepening concerns among job seekers.

According to the Ministry of Personnel Management on the 28th, the 2020 national civil service level 5 open recruitment exam, the first round of the diplomatic candidate selection exam, and the written exam for regional talent level 7 trainee staff, all originally scheduled for the 29th, have been tentatively postponed until after April. This decision was made to consider the health and safety of examinees and the public, and it is unprecedented for the level 5 civil service exam schedule to be delayed.

Additionally, major domestic companies such as Samsung, LG, and SK, which typically accept applications for new college graduate recruitment from late February to March, have also postponed their recruitment schedules. Most LG affiliates, including LG Electronics, have postponed their recruitment schedules originally planned for March to after April, and Hyundai Motor Company, which had completed document screening and was preparing for job-specific interviews, has also postponed interview schedules. GS, Hanwha, and POSCO have stated that they are either postponing or reconsidering their recruitment plans by affiliate.

All kinds of language and national qualification exams have also been completely canceled. The TOEIC regular test scheduled for the 29th was canceled. The Korea TOEIC Committee has stated that the regular tests scheduled for March 15 and 29 will be reviewed depending on the COVID-19 infection situation. Seoul National University's TEPS Management Committee also canceled the TEPS (Test of English Proficiency developed by Seoul National University) exam scheduled for March 7.

The problem is that the postponement of language tests such as TOEIC affects other exams, recruitment, and graduation. In particular, for the tax accountant qualification exam, which begins accepting applications on March 16, applicants must submit a TOEIC score of 700 or higher at the time of application. However, with the TOEIC regular test tentatively postponed, some tax accountant exam candidates are unable to take the test. In fact, the TOEIC regular test on the 29th was the last opportunity to take the TOEIC before the tax accountant exam. Although other language tests such as TEPS, TOEFL, and G-TELP can be used as substitutes, the test formats differ, and examinees who have prepared for TOEIC complain that there is no suitable alternative exam.

The Korea Financial Investment Association also canceled the investor asset manager qualification exam and fund investment advisory personnel qualification exam scheduled for the 23rd of last month and April 8. Since these exams are held only three times a year, examinees preparing for these tests are inevitably facing significant setbacks.

With essential exams for open recruitment or those that greatly influence pass/fail results being canceled, job seekers are sighing, saying they have lost even the chance to apply for open recruitment.

A job seeker in their 20s, Mr. A, said, "Like everyone else, I was preparing for employment thinking this year would be my last chance, but open recruitment has been postponed, exams canceled, and even academies have closed. In a situation where it is unclear whether the COVID-19 situation will worsen or improve, I feel lost about what to do next. Right now, all I can do is study while waiting for news about when the exams will resume, which could be anytime," he lamented.

[Source - Incruit]

Many job seekers share Mr. A’s sentiments. According to a survey conducted by the job portal Incruit of 448 job seekers on whether they feel anxious about job preparation due to the impact of COVID-19, 61.1% answered "yes." The reasons for anxiety included "recruitment postponement (25.8%)," "suspension of recruitment processes (24.2%)," and "recruitment cancellation (9.0%)." They also expressed concerns that these effects would eventually lead to a reduction in recruitment scale. Additionally, they worried about "loss of exam opportunities (6.2%)" due to infection or self-quarantine.

Recently, self-employed business owners severely affected by COVID-19 have been reducing labor costs by laying off part-time workers or cutting their working hours.

Mr. B, a job seeker in his 20s working part-time at a coffee shop in Pyeongtaek, said, "There were three part-time workers in total, but due to the impact of COVID-19 and the drop in customers, two of them were laid off except for me. Recently, after hearing that a confirmed case appeared in Pyeongtaek, the store decided to close temporarily, so practically, my source of income has been cut off," he reported.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.