[Factories Are Aging] Young People Who Shouted "It's Okay Not to Be a Large Corporation"

'Jobbelt' Changing Young Job Seekers' Perceptions
Customized Employment Support for Local Industrial Complexes
"Creating a Bonding Atmosphere Between Companies and Youth"

# Seo Mo (25), a graduate of Gyeongnam National University, had hoped to find employment in a major corporation's aviation department or a public enterprise in Seoul, leveraging his major. He never imagined he would work for a manufacturing company. However, after about a year of job preparation, he joined J Company, a small and medium-sized manufacturing firm located in the Changwon National Industrial Complex, in March last year. J Company is a strong small enterprise with precision manufacturing technology for power generation equipment. Seo is currently in charge of trade operations. His change of career path was possible because his perception of small and medium-sized enterprises changed. He formed a study group with other job seekers, visited company sites, met with HR managers, and after hearing the company's vision, he was moved.

Seo participated in the ‘Youth-Friendly Smart Industrial Complex Job Belt (Job Belt)’ program for local youth. The Job Belt project is a youth-tailored employment support program centered around regional industrial complexes. To provide quality jobs to graduates (or soon-to-be graduates) from universities in the Gyeongnam area and vocational high school students, multiple organizations including Gyeongnam Province, Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, Gyeongnam Changwon Industry-Academic Convergence Center, Masan University, and the Changwon National Industrial Complex Employers Association collaborated. Through the Job Belt project, 137 youths found employment in 2019, and 106 succeeded last year. This year, over 30 youths have already reported successful employment. Eight out of ten employed individuals joined companies located in the Gyeongnam region, and about half entered companies based in the industrial complex.

Job seekers who participated in last year's Youth-Friendly Smart Industrial Complex Job Belt project are experiencing mock interviews.

When these organizations launched the Job Belt project, the employment rate for high school graduates was at an all-time low. That year, the nationwide employment rate for vocational high school students dropped sharply due to the abolition of on-site high school internships. From February 2017 to February 2019, the employment rate fell by about 50%, with six out of 17 provinces experiencing a halving of employment rates. At that time, Gyeongnam's employment decline rate was 51.5% compared to 2017, ranking third highest after Chungnam (77.3%) and Gwangju (58.6%).

The Job Belt project focused on changing the negative perception of companies located in the industrial complex. Executives from companies within the complex frequently met and communicated directly with young people. They held meetings with company representatives, had conversations with job supervisors, and even experienced the working environment firsthand. The stereotype that manufacturing work always involves wearing blue overalls and getting hands oily was dispelled. Companies attracted young people with advanced and automated production facilities, flexible working hours, and various welfare benefits. Eliminating prejudice against small and medium-sized enterprises broadened employment opportunities.

A Gyeongnam Provincial Government official said, "We created an atmosphere for strong small enterprises and youth to meet and build relationships," adding, "Companies were able to hire talented personnel, and local governments could prevent the outflow of human resources." A representative from the Gyeongnam Changwon Industry-Academic Convergence Center stated, "We provided study groups and job preparation spaces for job seekers who lacked a sense of belonging after graduation," and "They could focus on job hunting in a psychologically stable state." Gyeongnam Province was selected as the top institution in the ‘2020 National Local Government Job Awards’ hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor through this project. There are plans to introduce and expand the Job Belt model to Yangsan, Geoje, and Miryang in the future.

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