Starbucks Supports Small Business Recovery and Creates Jobs Across Community Life Cycles

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] Starbucks Coffee Korea pursues an open workplace through non-discriminatory hiring regardless of age, gender, education, or disability status.

Starting with 40 partners at its first store opening in January 1999, it now directly employs approximately 19,000 partners across more than 1,600 stores nationwide, a 450-fold increase.

By 2025, the company aims to significantly expand hiring from vulnerable employment groups to account for about 10% of all employees, contributing to job creation.

Currently, the employment rate of partners with disabilities stands at 4.1% of total employees, the highest level in the industry, and 160 return-mom baristas have rejoined through reemployment support programs for women with career interruptions.

Maternal protection policies have been strengthened through various institutional supports for work-family balance, including extending parental leave up to two years.