Namwon Women's Saero Ilhagi Center Provides Employment Support Services for Career-Interrupted Women

Published 21 Jul.2021 13:38(KST)

[Namwon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Young-gwon] Jeonbuk Namwon Women’s New Work Center (Director Jeong Nam-hoon) announced on the 21st that it provides comprehensive employment support services such as job counseling and job matching for women with career interruptions, supported by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

Despite the employment crisis caused by COVID-19 since last year, the New Work Center achieved 107% of its employment target last year (target 785, actual 841).

As of July this year, 1,013 women participated in job seeking, with 556 successfully employed, achieving 76% of the 2021 target of 733. Among them, 286 were regular employees (51%), 85 were contract workers (15%), 182 were part-time workers (33%), and 3 started their own businesses.

The age distribution of employed women was 18% in their 20s-30s, 26% in their 40s, 33% in their 50s, and 22% in their 60s, with employment mainly in healthcare, social welfare, and office accounting.

The center operates group counseling programs (Employment Knock) 20 times a year for 200 participants, conducts job preference tests, resume clinics, mock interviews, and continuously strives to enhance job seekers’ motivation and skills through employment awareness education.

Through the ‘New Work Women Internship Program,’ which supports companies hiring female interns up to 3.8 million KRW per person (3.2 million KRW for companies, 600,000 KRW for interns), 35 job seekers were employed in quality companies, significantly contributing to stable employment for women with career interruptions.

Additionally, to help women with career interruptions who face increasing competition in the job market develop their abilities and enter better occupations, the center conducted five vocational training courses lasting 2 to 3 months.

Among the 94 total graduates, 80% obtained relevant professional certifications, and the center plans to achieve a 100% employment rate through active job placement led by dedicated counselors.

Furthermore, the center continues to hold five sessions of ‘Career Interruption Prevention Special Lectures’ aimed at improving stress management and workplace communication skills to encourage long-term employment and prevent early resignation.

To build a career interruption prevention network, the center is establishing connections among local community organizations and simultaneously engaging in activities such as women-friendly one-on-one company agreements, business agreements, and job cooperation networks.

Director Jeong Nam-hoon said, “We will provide customized support so that women with career interruptions can find jobs where they can demonstrate their abilities,” and added, “I hope that many women with career interruptions in the local community will visit the New Work Center, receive services, succeed in reemployment, and establish a foundation for economic independence.”