Thanks to 'Ilhakseup Byeonghaeng'... Skill Level Soars, Labor Shortage Drops

Ministry of Employment Introduces New Work-Study Parallel Program for Job Seekers

PeaceEase, a medical IT specialist company, is greatly benefiting from the 'Work-Learning Dual System' training. Due to the nature of the software design field, experienced on-site personnel are crucial, but there has been a severe shortage of manpower relying solely on graduates from related domestic departments. Since eight years ago, all new employees with less than one year of service at PeaceEase have participated in the Work-Learning Dual System, resolving the shortage of specialized personnel and increasing employee job satisfaction, achieving results that satisfy both the company and workers. A company representative said, "It is difficult to find majors in the medical information system design field, but through the Work-Learning Dual System, the company is cultivating customized talent needed by the company, which has led to increased sales and enhanced external brand competitiveness."

On the 27th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it will establish a 'Work-Learning Dual System for Job Seekers' starting this year. The Work-Learning Dual System is a Korean-style apprenticeship training system introduced in 2013. It has supported small and medium-sized enterprises facing recruitment difficulties by supplying skilled personnel and helped youth develop job competencies required by companies.

Until now, the system was operated mainly for students concurrently working and studying during regular education courses and employees with less than one year of service, so unemployed youth or those struggling to find employment could not participate.

Starting this year, the scope of the Work-Learning Dual System training will be expanded to include unemployed youth, not just students and employees. A pre-theoretical education course, which did not exist before, will be operated so that job seekers can thoroughly explore the fields and companies they desire and receive basic job training.

Afterward, by getting employed at a learning company, they will be supported to develop essential on-site competencies through on-site training using training tools and equipment identical to actual production facilities and theoretical education essential to the field.

An official from the Ministry of Employment and Labor said, "The establishment of the Work-Learning Dual System for job seekers will contribute to shortening the job-seeking period for young job seekers and expanding their job choice options through pre-theoretical education."

Lee Sung-hee, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, said, "Starting this year, by establishing the Work-Learning Dual System for job seekers, not only general young job seekers but also vulnerable youth will be able to find desired jobs quickly, and companies will be able to secure personnel with the required level of skills early."

He added, "We will regularly identify difficulties and challenges that learning workers may face during this process and work with learning company managers to devise solutions to support workplace adaptation and settlement."

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