"AI Is Not Just Taking Jobs"…Number of Hires Through Matching Jumps 66% in One Year

172,000 Users Found Jobs Through Ministry of Employment and Labor's AI Services

AI employment services are establishing themselves as essential infrastructure, going beyond simply supporting job seekers to actually delivering tangible employment results. In particular, with an average of 57 job seekers per day successfully landing jobs through AI-recommended positions, the effectiveness of such matching has been proven. As a result, these services are now seen as entering a phase of producing full-scale outcomes, moving beyond the initial policy introduction stage.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, as of the end of 2025, 172,000 people found employment using the "AI Job Matching Service," marking a 66% increase compared to the previous year. Among them, the number of "matching hires"—those who applied for and were actually employed in jobs specifically recommended by AI—rose by 61% to 21,000. Not only is the total number of people finding work through the service (users who found jobs) rising rapidly, but cases where AI recommendations directly led to hiring are also increasing at a fast pace.

The term "users who found jobs" refers to individuals who, after applying to AI-recommended positions, successfully gained employment, including at jobs other than those recommended by AI. In contrast, "matching hires" indicates those who applied to a specific job recommended by AI and were employed directly in that position. In other words, the number of matching hires is a direct indicator of the accuracy and effectiveness of AI recommendations, and the recent upward trend suggests that the qualitative level of AI-based matching is rapidly improving.

In fact, the qualitative outcomes of AI job matching have recently shown a clear acceleration. While the number of matching hires increased by only 13.3% from 11,607 in 2023 to 13,156 in 2024, last year alone saw a sharp jump of 47.7 percentage points to a 61% increase. Although the growth was moderate in the initial stages, the sharp increase over the past year indicates that the "direct matching" effect—where AI recommendations lead directly to employment—is being significantly strengthened.

Evolving from "Providing Information" to "Direct Hiring Connections"

This trend is more significant than the numbers alone suggest. Whereas public employment services in the past focused mainly on information provision and job referrals, AI-based services now analyze individual career histories, competencies, and preferences to create connections that result in actual hiring. The fact that there are an average of 57 matching hires per day demonstrates that AI is functioning as a practical tool to reduce mismatches in the labor market.

Changes are also being seen in user behavior. Job seekers using AI services browse an average of 22.9 job postings across different occupations and apply to 11.5, showing much broader exploration and application behavior than non-users. Usage of the AI-based career planning service "JobCare" is also increasing for similar reasons. The number of uses has exceeded 410,000, with a particularly high proportion among young people. This indicates that the trend of using AI to map out career pathways from the job preparation stage is spreading.

Real-life examples confirm these changes. One young job seeker in their 20s, who had paused their job search for about eight months, discovered an accounting role that suited their aptitudes through JobCare and a career values assessment. Afterwards, with AI-driven job training recommendations, they obtained certifications in computerized tax accounting and accounting. By defining a specific career direction and gaining relevant experience, this person eventually found work in the administration and accounting fields. Experts note that this example is significant because AI not only provided information but also structured the entire process of career planning and preparation for the individual.

On the 27th, job seekers participating in the '2026 Public Institution Job Information Fair' held at aT Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, visited the National Health Insurance Service to obtain employment information. 2026.1.27 Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The benefits of AI are also evident from the corporate perspective. Companies using AI job posting services attracted more applicants, and cases of quickly hiring highly suitable candidates through AI talent recommendations are increasing. This shows that AI improves matching accuracy while simultaneously reducing both time and costs throughout the recruitment process.

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon stated, "Although over 170,000 people found jobs last year, what matters even more is who benefits from AI," adding, "We must make AI a 'technology for everyone,' not just for a select few."

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