To Alleviate SME Workforce Shortage... Ministry of SMEs and Startups Focuses Support on Specialized High Schools

‘SME Specialized High School Workforce Training’ Project
Expanded to 20 Schools Focusing on New Technologies
Applications Open Until February 16 for New Participants

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 29th that it will select and support 185 specialized high schools this year to respond to regional conditions and changes in industrial structure and to alleviate the difficulties faced by small and medium-sized enterprises experiencing labor shortages.

Minister Oh Young-joo of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Since 2008, the Ministry has been operating the "SME Specialized High School Workforce Training" project, which links SMEs with employment. According to last year's survey, 90.2% of participating students were satisfied, and 98.2% of participating companies expressed a desire to hire employees through this project.

The issue is that, along with the recent sharp decline in the school-age population, the university entrance rate of specialized high schools is also rising, and some specialized high schools are experiencing a downward trend in employment rates. Additionally, field opinions indicated that in new technology fields and regional industry sectors with high employment rates, support is insufficient compared to demand.

Accordingly, the Ministry plans to scale down the number of participating schools from 198 last year to within 185 schools with excellent employment and other performance, and provide focused support. To alleviate the labor shortage in advanced fields caused by changes in industrial structure, the number of new technology-focused support schools will be expanded from 8 to 20. Along with this, schools designated for regionally specialized industries will be introduced on a pilot basis targeting non-metropolitan and Gyeonggi areas where there is high demand for vacant jobs. Vacant jobs refer to positions where labor is needed but supply is insufficient.

Participating schools will be finalized through the "2023 Participating Schools Reapplication Evaluation and 2024 New Participating Schools" contest. Specialized high schools wishing to newly participate can apply through the SME Workforce Support Integrated Management System website by the 16th of next month.

Park Jong-chan, Director of SME Policy at the Ministry, explained, "The Ministry supports pre-employment and post-education programs at various levels across different industrial sectors so that youth can grow into core talents of SMEs through a ladder of growth. Along with this, we will continuously review improvements to the SME job environment so that young people can remain employed long-term."