Gyeongbuk Vocational High Schools Achieve 38.4% Net Employment Rate, Ranking First Nationwide for Six Consecutive Years

National Average Stands at Only 25.6%
Lowest College Enrollment Rate at 31.6%

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education (Superintendent Lim Jong-sik) announced on December 1 that, according to the 2025 vocational high school graduate employment statistics released by the Ministry of Education, it ranked first nationwide with a final net employment rate of 38.4% (the national average is 25.6%).

The Ministry of Education and the Korea Educational Development Institute conduct an annual vocational high school graduate employment statistics survey as of April 1 each year, linking it with public databases to ensure the objectivity and reliability of the employment rate. Since the survey began in 2020, the Gyeongbuk Office of Education has maintained the highest net employment rate in the country for six consecutive years.

Gyeongbuk Office of Education

Meanwhile, in this announcement, the college enrollment rate for Gyeongbuk vocational high school graduates was 31.6% (the national average is 49.2%), the lowest in the country. This result reflects Gyeongbuk vocational high schools’ focus on nurturing skilled workers for employment, as they have strengthened customized education based on each student’s aptitude and talent. This means students are equipped with practical skills that allow them to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

The key factors behind these achievements include: restructuring vocational high schools to meet the changing times and the needs of stakeholders in new industries and technologies; operating the 10th industrial curriculum to foster future convergence talent capable of responding proactively to changes in the future industrial society; running customized employment education programs desired by companies through the Gyeongbuk-style apprenticeship program, a regional specialty project; and establishing a collaborative education model with local governments through the vocational high school innovation district project. Gyeongbuk vocational high school students have demonstrated outstanding practical skills, as evidenced by their acquisition of national technical qualifications and awards at skills competitions.

Lim Jong-sik, Superintendent of the Gyeongbuk Office of Education, stated, “The fact that Gyeongbuk vocational high schools have ranked first nationwide in net employment rate for six consecutive years is the result of discovering jobs that reflect industrial field demand, systematic employment competency enhancement programs, and the combined efforts of teachers, students, parents, and the local community.” He added, “We will continue to develop Gyeongbuk vocational high schools as central institutions for nurturing talent based on regional strategic industries and establish them as a standard model leading global vocational education.”

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