This is why the 'One-time Expo' is criticized... 'One in ten' succeeds in employment through the expo

Jang Cheol-min "Need for Activation Plan Centered on Matching with Companies with Hiring Records"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been revealed that only one out of ten job seekers participating in job fairs succeeded in finding employment. There are calls to provide incentives to companies with hiring records to encourage more effective matching.

According to job fair performance data received on the 28th from the Ministry of Employment and Labor by Jang Cheolmin, a member of the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party, among 17,804 job seekers who participated in fairs held by six regional employment and labor offices under the Ministry, only 1,817 (10.2%) found jobs. This means only one in ten. There are criticisms that the effectiveness of the job fair project, which aims to resolve mismatches between job seekers and employers especially for vulnerable groups such as high school graduates, women, and the elderly, is low.

Looking at the job placement performance of fairs held over the past three years, in 2018, out of 7,930 job seekers, 822 (10%) were employed; in 2019, 860 out of 9,418 (9%) found jobs; and from January to August this year, 135 out of 456 (29%) were employed, showing poor results. No fairs were held last year due to COVID-19. Although 950 small and medium-sized enterprises participated over three years with 8,558 job openings, the actual number of hires was only 1,817 (21%). In particular, the employment rate at the Seoul center's fairs was the lowest among the six regional offices, with 6% in 2018 and 5% in 2019.

Rep. Jang said, "Providing job skills and company information is good, but ultimately, what job seekers want most at fairs is employment," and emphasized, "We need to develop improvement measures to provide incentives centered on companies with hiring records so that job fairs can lead to actual employment and active job matching can be achieved."

Employment fair performance and employment status at six regional Employment and Labor Offices from January to August 2021. (Data provided by Assemblyman Jang Cheol-min's office)

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