Seoul City Develops Customized Job Training for Middle-Aged and Older Adults

From Education to Employment in One Go

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] According to a demand survey report for middle-aged and older adults conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, it was revealed on the 15th that the current middle-aged population in Seoul has a high demand for practical training that can lead to employment or income generation.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government 50 Plus Foundation, as part of the ‘Seoul Run 4050’ project which focuses on supporting middle-aged and older adults in Seoul, developed vocational skill development training courses linked with universities that reflect these demands and can lead to employment or entrepreneurship after training.

The foundation collaborated with four universities nationwide to research and develop 11 vocational skill development training courses suitable for the 40s and 60s age groups. Each course is structured to connect to jobs through essential liberal arts courses that help adapt to a changing society, major courses focused on technical training, and field training for practical experience.

The vocational skill development training courses for middle-aged adults were developed with future prospects in mind, aiming to connect education completion to employment. Based on this university-linked curriculum development research, the foundation plans to select participating universities through a public contest in March, recruit middle-aged participants from May, and operate the training courses.

Hwang Yoon-joo, Policy Research Team Leader at the Seoul Metropolitan Government 50 Plus Foundation, said, “As the number of middle-aged adults who want to continue working increases, the demand for specialized education to enhance job competencies is also gradually growing,” adding, “We expect this research to provide high-quality education necessary for middle-aged adults by utilizing university resources and to serve as a foundation for a virtuous cycle structure that connects to local jobs.”