Despite the 'Semiconductor Crisis,' Hiring Increases... Samsung Electronics Maintains 'No.1 in Employment'

Last year, the total number of National Pension subscribers among the top 500 domestic companies slightly increased. Samsung Electronics, despite struggling in its core semiconductor sector, was found to have hired the most new employees last year.

According to CEO Score, a corporate data research institute, as of the end of last year, Samsung Electronics had the highest number of National Pension subscribers at 125,593. Samsung Electronics also saw the largest increase in National Pension subscribers over the year. After recording 120,877 at the end of 2023, the number rose by 4,716 (3.9%) by the end of last year.

Samsung Electronics showcased new commercial display products at 'ISE 2025,' Europe's largest display exhibition, held from the 4th to the 7th (local time) in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Samsung Electronics

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CEO Score stated, "Even amid a crisis in the core semiconductor sector due to insufficient response to AI memory, such as High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), Samsung Electronics is evaluated to have steadily increased new employment."

This survey was conducted excluding 32 companies among the top 500 domestic companies by sales that experienced significant changes due to mergers and splits. The total number of National Pension subscribers in these companies increased by 0.3%, from 1,588,817 at the end of December 2023 to 1,594,119 at the end of last year. Following Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company (69,285), LG Electronics (36,244), Kia (33,004), SK Hynix (31,638), LG Display (25,632), Korea Railroad Corporation (23,452), and E-Mart (23,305) had the highest numbers of National Pension subscribers.

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The company with the largest decrease in National Pension subscribers during the same period was LG Innotek (down 2,391), according to the survey. However, CEO Score explained that due to the nature of industries where the scale of short-term contract hiring varies depending on client order fluctuations, the increase or decrease in National Pension subscribers can vary significantly depending on the survey timing.

Other companies that saw a reduction in employment size include LG Display (down 2,346) and E-Mart (down 1,293), which conducted voluntary retirements last year, as well as Kookmin Bank (down 684), LG Chem (down 634), and Paris Croissant (down 614).

By industry, the IT and electronics sector had the highest number of National Pension subscribers at 332,570. This was followed by automotive and parts (189,349), distribution (154,789), public enterprises (144,789), services (99,985), food and beverage (98,099), banking (93,193), construction and building materials (84,420), shipbuilding, machinery, and equipment (67,521), petrochemicals (62,476), transportation (51,502), and insurance (50,302).

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