The Korea Specialty Contractors Association Explores Solutions to Alleviate Workforce Shortages in the Korean and Japanese Construction Industries

The Korea Specialty Contractors Association announced on the 22nd that it held a 'Korea-Japan Construction Industry Development and Mutual Cooperation Measures Meeting' with the Japan Federation of Construction Industry Specialists (hereinafter referred to as Kenzenren) at the Specialty Construction Hall conference room in Dongjak-gu, Seoul.

Yoon Hak-su, President of the Korea Specialty Construction Association (left), and Iwata Shogo, President of the Japan Federation of Construction Industry Associations, are posing for a commemorative photo at the "Korea-Japan Construction Industry Development and Mutual Cooperation Measures Meeting" held on the 22nd at the Specialty Construction Hall in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Korea Specialty Construction Association

Kenzenren is a corporation consisting of 34 member organizations related to specialty construction work, including the National Reinforcement Work Contractors Council, and approximately 45,000 specialty construction member companies. It performs roles similar to those of the Specialty Contractors Association.

Attending the meeting were Kenzenren Chairman Iwata Shogo, Watase Tomohiro, Head of the Research Department at the Construction Skilled Workforce Organization (JAC), and Nishino Sayaka, a professor at Kyoto University, among others.

The two associations discussed various challenges faced by specialty construction contractors in both countries, whose construction industry subcontracting structures are similar, including the global labor shortage and the resulting decline in industry growth, and jointly sought solutions. They also discussed plans to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for continuous exchange and cooperation between the organizations.

Chairman Yoon Hak-su said, "Korea and Japan have developed by inspiring each other historically and geographically," adding, "I hope this meeting will not be a one-time encounter but will serve as a cornerstone for jointly exploring the challenges facing the construction industries of both countries and establishing response measures."

In response, Chairman Iwata said, "Having traveled to various countries including Europe, I have felt the global labor shortage," and added, "Together with government bodies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, academia, and the youth sector present today, we are exploring ways to increase youth inflow and utilization of foreign labor. We will strive for the joint development of the specialty construction industries in both countries."