'Gyeonggi Stepping Stone Job Project' Expanded Support This Year

A Total of Approximately 2.5 Billion Won Invested from April to November... Participation of Excellent Job-Creating Companies Outside Industrial Complexes

Gyeonggi Provincial Government Northern Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Gyeonggi Province has expanded the scope and duration of corporate participation in the fourth year of the 'Gyeonggi Stepping Stone Job Project,' which started this year, thereby increasing opportunities for job seekers to gain experience in private-sector jobs.

The province announced on the 21st that it will invest a total of 2.56 billion KRW in the 'Stepping Stone Job Project' and implement it from April to November.

The province explained that the project's greatest strength lies in its educational programs that help participants build practical skills necessary for employment, such as work experience and know-how for resumes and interviews, as well as close support through job counselors qualified as career consultants who provide job counseling and employment information to maximize employment success rates.

By March 4th, 55 participating organizations, including public institutions, social economy enterprises, and private companies, will be selected, followed by the selection of participants in March and placement at each workplace in April.

This year, to ensure effective project implementation, the participation period has been adjusted to eight months, and the scope of private company participation has been expanded from youth-friendly small and medium enterprises and companies located in industrial complexes to include other companies with excellent job opportunities.

Customized education reflecting participant demand and workplace characteristics will also be provided. Public institutions will focus on job-related and employment competency education, while social economy enterprises will receive support for training expenses up to 400,000 KRW per person.

Small and medium (private) enterprises will assign one-on-one mentors to provide job-based, on-site customized training.

Eligibility to apply requires residents to have an income at or below 100% of the median income or belong to vulnerable employment groups (such as those unemployed for more than six months, persons with disabilities, or female heads of households).

Hyun Byung-cheon, Director of the Job Economy Policy Division, said, "The Stepping Stone Job Project is a representative career-building job project that connects participants to employment through work experience and customized education. This year, we will continue to serve as a stepping stone to employment by designing a solid project and discovering job opportunities."