Youth Employment Support Network Launches: "1,700 to Gain Work Experience at Samsung, POSCO, SK in Second Half"

Inauguration Ceremony of the 'Youth Employment Support Network' with Government, Business, and Experts Participation
"Supporting the Discovery and Dissemination of Excellent Youth Employment Support Programs Across the Business Sector"

Minister of Employment and Labor An Kyung-duk (right) and Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, pose for a commemorative photo holding the agreement at the "Youth Employment Support Project Agreement Ceremony" held at the Seoul Employment and Labor Office on the 3rd. HR executives from Samsung Electronics, POSCO, SK Hynix, and Lotte introduced their respective support programs via video conference. From the top left of the screen clockwise: Nagi Hong, Vice President and Head of HR Team at Samsung Electronics; Yang Byung-ho, Director of HR Culture at POSCO; Jeong Bu-ok, Vice President of HR Innovation at Lotte Holdings; Jeon Jong-min, Vice President at SK Hynix. (Image source=Yonhap News) Photo by Yonhap News

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] A consultative body to support the 'Youth Employment Support Project,' led by the business community and experts, has been launched. As early as the second half of the year, about 1,700 young people are expected to gain work experience opportunities through job training at companies such as Samsung Electronics, POSCO, and SK Hynix.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Employers Federation announced on the afternoon of the 24th that they would hold the launch ceremony for the 'Youth Employment Support Network' at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The ceremony was attended by Minister Ahn Kyung-duk, Ryu Ki-jung, Executive Director of the Korea Employers Federation, Na Ki-hong, Vice President of Samsung Electronics, and executives from seven companies, as well as five experts including Professor Kwon Soon-won of Sookmyung Women's University.

The network will be operated in a form where the government participates along with companies that have joined the support project membership, centered on the Korea Employers Federation and the expert support group. Professor Kwon serves as the head of the expert support group. Along with the network, a support working committee involving department heads from major companies will also be operated. The network includes the Korea Employers Federation, the expert support group, and CHOs (Chief Human Resources Officers) from major companies, while the working committee consists of department heads from major companies.

Starting with the launch ceremony, the network and the working committee plan to hold regular meetings to share best practices of youth employment support programs and related research results. Based on this, they will prepare improvement measures to provide more young people with high-quality job training and work experience opportunities.

Minister Ahn stated, "Through the youth employment support programs of the support project membership companies in the second half of the year, more than 1,700 young people will gain opportunities to improve their job competencies and gain work experience." In the second half, opportunities will be provided for 950 people through Samsung Electronics' SSAFY, 590 through POSCO's For You Dream, and 150 to 200 through SK Hynix's Hi-Five program.

Meanwhile, at the launch ceremony, Professor Kwon gave a presentation on the topic of "ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) and Youth Employment Support Project," discussing the necessity and promotion plans for private-led youth employment support programs. Afterwards, the government, companies, and employer organizations shared the overall operation status of company-specific programs and discussed collaboration plans.

Professor Kwon said, "In the reality where job experience opportunities for young job seekers are decreasing due to labor market contraction caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of internship opportunities due to changes in corporate recruitment strategies, the network will play an important role. If companies provide various job experience opportunities to young people as part of their ESG activities, it is expected to become an innovative foundation for nurturing future talent."