Busan AI’s Present and Future Unveiled... BISTEP Publishes First Talent Report

Analysis of Over 10,000 Job Postings
"Busan Shows High Demand for Manufacturing and System-Based AI Roles"

The previously unseen field has now taken shape in words and numbers.

BISTEP has measured the pulse of Busan's AI industry for the first time and presented a demand-driven talent development strategy.

The Busan Institute of Science, Technology and Education Promotion (BISTEP), led by President Kim Youngbu, published the report "Current Status of AI Talent in Busan and Strategies for Nurturing Local Talent" on December 11. This is the first analysis of AI workforce supply and demand in Busan based on job postings.

This report simultaneously analyzes the employment trends of AI majors graduating from universities in the southeastern region and the AI talent demand of Busan-based companies, proposing a talent development strategy tailored to the region's industrial structure.

In particular, the report conducted a detailed analysis of the local AI job structure based on data from 10,439 job postings, and reflected on-site needs by conducting corporate interviews in parallel.

According to the report, AI majors in the southeastern region are mainly employed in manufacturing, information and communications, and professional, scientific, and technical services, which are industries centered on manufacturing and production in the region. The job posting analysis also showed that Busan has a higher proportion of positions in "manufacturing-based production technology management" and "embedded/server/web-based system development" compared to the capital area and nationwide, clearly revealing a strong demand for AI professionals in manufacturing and system-based roles. This trend is consistent with the 2024 job posting analysis by the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training.

Busan, Seoul Metropolitan Area, and Nationwide Major Topic Distribution Status (Unit: Cases, %)

In-depth corporate interviews highlighted the need to strengthen problem-solving-oriented practical training linked to Busan's key industries (such as manufacturing, maritime, and mobility), expand industry-academia joint projects, and reinforce the foundation for skilled talent to settle in the region.

In response, BISTEP proposed the following policy directions: ▲Establishing a training system for core AI talent and domain-converged AI professionals ▲Expanding industry-academia-based AI+X projects and long-term internships ▲Enhancing practical upskilling and reskilling support for current employees and job seekers.

President Kim Youngbu stated, "An AI talent development system that reflects local industry demand is essential for strengthening Busan's technological competitiveness," adding, "I hope this report will serve as a foundational resource for universities, companies, and local governments in formulating AI talent policies."

The full report can be found on the BISTEP website.

Busan City's 9 Major Strategic Industries Domain Convergence Education Program (Example).

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