Government Operates Job Task Force Weekly... "Will Announce Livelihood Support Measures for Construction Industry"

Joint Job Task Force Meeting Held by Ministry of Economy and Finance and Ministry of Employment and Labor

At the mid-sized companies job fair held at COEX in Seoul on the 21st, job seekers are looking at the job posting board. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

The government announced that it will conduct weekly reviews of job policy implementation, citing a decline in employment in the construction industry and among self-employed workers, as well as ongoing difficulties faced by vulnerable groups such as youth.

On the 17th, Kim Beom-seok, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Kim Min-seok, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, emphasized at a joint meeting of the inter-ministerial job task force (TF) that "since the pace of employment growth may not be as fast as before, detailed policy responses are needed to prevent the worsening of difficulties in vulnerable sectors."

Kim Beom-seok, First Vice Minister of Economy and Finance, stated, "Although the overall employment indicators have maintained an improved level compared to the past, with the employment rate in June marking the highest for 29 consecutive months and the unemployment rate ranking as the second lowest ever, employment in the construction industry and among the self-employed is decreasing, and difficulties for vulnerable groups such as youth continue. Since the pace of employment growth may not be as fast as before, it is a time when detailed policy responses are necessary to prevent the worsening of difficulties in vulnerable sectors."

He also said, "We will operate the job task force and the working-level TF weekly to closely monitor and supplement employment conditions by industry and sector, as well as the progress of job policies by each ministry." In particular, he emphasized, "We will promptly implement policy tasks that the public can feel by collecting opinions from the field and experts."

Kim Min-seok, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, stated, "In the construction industry, where the employment decline continues, we will also strengthen policy efforts to stabilize worker employment and support livelihoods."

Vice Minister Kim added, "Since quality jobs are created in the private sector, we will steadfastly pursue labor reforms such as improving the dual structure, reforming the wage system linked to continuous employment measures, and strengthening the protection of labor rights for vulnerable workers. We will also simultaneously undertake structural efforts to enhance active labor market policies (ALMP) for smooth job matching and rapid workforce development."