Job-Seeking Know-How for Middle-Aged and Older Adults Starting Their Second Act in Life

Jungjangnyeon Naeil Center Helps 2,092 Middle-Aged and Older Find Jobs This Year
568 Job Placements Through Matching... 76% Increase Compared to Last Year

The Jungjangnyeon Tomorrow Center held a "Job Matching Day" on October 17th on the first floor of the Seoul Employment Office to support reemployment for middle-aged and older adults. A total of 148 people participated in the event, and 39 succeeded in finding jobs.
[Photo by Jungjangnyeon Tomorrow Center]

Jang Hye-jung (55), who experienced a career break after retiring from working as a private academy instructor, recently succeeded in reemployment as a social worker. This was made possible with the help of the Jungjangnyeon Naeil Center, an employment placement agency for middle-aged and older adults aged 40 and above. Jang diligently followed the center’s advice that the more certifications and work experience one gains in related fields, the higher the chances of employment. After obtaining a Level 2 Social Worker certificate and a private dementia certification, she gained three months of experience at a Senior Healing Center, which laid the foundation for her second act in life.

As society enters an aging phase and average life expectancy extends, job-seeking activities among middle-aged and older adults have become more active, leading to an annual increase in visitors to the Jungjangnyeon Naeil Center. Located within the Seoul Employment Welfare Plus Center, the Jungjangnyeon Naeil Center is operated under the commission of the Korea Management Innovation Small and Medium Business Association (MainBiz Association). It provides services such as employment counseling, education, and job support for those aged 40 and above. This year, the center’s customized employment support service, the Reemployment Support Package, saw 1,027 participants, with 504 securing jobs. Kim Young-hee, head of the Jungjangnyeon Naeil Center at the MainBiz Association, said, "The employment will of middle-aged and older adults is steadily increasing," adding, "Since COVID-19, their job-seeking know-how has changed, so thorough preparation is essential."

Director Kim emphasized that various certifications and work experience are advantageous for employment. Analyzing the center’s employment statistics, he found that from the mid-50s onward, the more certifications and related work experience one has, the higher the likelihood of holding two or more jobs, and that this remains advantageous even beyond age 60.

Among middle-aged and older adults, the longer the retirement period, the more likely they are to switch to different job roles. To increase the success rate of career changes, "job information" is paramount. The center collaborates with companies to provide both employment information and job opportunities simultaneously. Recently, the center jointly conducted a job project with Papa Mobility, a Kolon affiliate offering customized mobility services. Out of 42 applicants, 15 were finally selected. This year alone, the center provided 2014 individuals with 201,213 pieces of recruitment information.

The Jungjangnyeon Naeil Center operates the 'Life Career Design Package' for long-term career planning in the era of 100-year lifespans and the 'Rejump Package,' a reemployment skill training program, to support middle-aged and older adults in finding new jobs. This year, 1,027 people participated in the training, and 504 found employment.
[Photo by Jungjangnyeon Naeil Center]

Rather than adopting an attitude of "just get a job first," efforts to find quality jobs are also important. While in the past work alone was prioritized, middle-aged and older adults now tend to consider health, relationships, and leisure sufficiently when seeking employment. According to a center survey, the preferred quality jobs among middle-aged and older adults were part-time and freelance positions at 38.7%, second only to full-time jobs. Kim Jong-muk, a team leader (61) who started his third career at an IT company after working at large corporations and venture companies, said, "Looking around, many people quit due to work stress even after getting a job," adding, "Although my current salary is lower than my previous workplace, the stress is less, so I work while taking care of my health and leisure."

Participating in employment skills training, experiencing mock interviews, or developing IT skills such as hardware and software also greatly help in securing employment. Director Kim advised, "Even after strenuous job hunting, many fail at the final stage due to lack of interview skills," adding, "As employment information is collected via mobile or online platforms and platform jobs are increasing, middle-aged and older adults must strive not to fall behind in IT proficiency."

The center has been selected as an excellent institution by the Ministry of Employment and Labor for two consecutive years. This year, 2,092 job seekers registered at the center have successfully found employment. Among them, 568 secured jobs through placement matching, a 76% increase compared to last year. Seok Yong-chan, president of the MainBiz Association, said, "In the era of 100-year lifespans, lifelong companies or lifelong jobs will disappear," adding, "We will create opportunities for talented individuals with strong job-seeking will and abundant practical experience to be hired by small and medium enterprises." The MainBiz Association operates the management innovation certification system for small and medium enterprises and has discovered 22,809 management innovation SMEs to date. It has 4,944 regular member companies and 96 branches nationwide (7 federations).