[K-Women Talk] The Value of Technical Jobs That Survive Even in the Age of AI

Safe from AI: Field-Based Technical Jobs
High Earnings Possible, but Training Is Tough
Various Entry Paths Through Vocational Schools and Training Centers

There is a reliable trainee at the hair salon I go to. While most trainees quit within three months, this one has already been there for three years. She is a fourth-year student in a cosmetology program, currently participating in an internship that is linked to her academic credits. The school and the salon are connected, allowing students to earn credits while gaining practical experience, and the salon can secure manpower without spending time or money on recruitment. The salon covers half of her tuition, and she also receives a small stipend for her internship.

"About half of my classmates go straight into becoming designers after their internships, but I want to teach, so I plan to pursue both a master's and a doctorate." At just 23 years old, she already has a solid career plan. She hasn't just been dreaming; professors and senior designers have given her detailed advice, so she is unlikely to make any missteps. Thinking of my own niece, who is still "preparing for employment" despite having had her tuition, allowance, and even language study abroad covered, I couldn't help but feel a bit envious.

Interest among young people in field-based technical jobs such as beauty, electrical work, wallpapering, and film installation is rising. Park Narae from "I Live Alone" drew attention for learning wallpapering at a training center, and live channels featuring tile technicians or interior film installers working on-site are also popular. For young people, are these technical jobs that AI cannot replace and that promise the dream of earning ten million won a month, or are they grueling jobs that most cannot endure for even three months?

According to research by the global freelance platform Upwork, field-based technical jobs that require delicate manual skills, healthcare and caregiving roles that reduce inconvenience through direct contact, and professional fields requiring creativity and complex reasoning are considered safe from artificial intelligence (AI) replacement. Realistically, the day when we entrust haircuts to robots will likely come very slowly.

The pay is also considered good. While it varies depending on technical difficulty, assistants known as "jogong" earn a daily wage of 120,000 to 150,000 won, top-tier technicians make 300,000 to 450,000 won, and those with many clients who work like self-employed business owners can actually earn ten million won a month. Although there are stories about territorialism, the reality is that "because the workforce is aging, young and enthusiastic newcomers are now welcomed on job sites."

However, technical jobs are by no means easy. If the skills are not ingrained, there is a risk of accidents; one must be prepared for noise and dust; and in new buildings, you may have to compete with foreign workers for wages. The amount of work fluctuates depending on the economy, and basic expenses such as equipment and vehicles can be significant. It is also common that a rigorous training period of three to four years is required to master one's own skills. In fact, 60 to 70 percent quit within three months, and only 10 percent survive to become top-tier technicians, so it must be acknowledged that the field is tough.

Fortunately, it has become easier to enter the field. In the past, when all learning took place on-site, power imbalances among technicians were inevitable. Nowadays, students can learn the basics at school or training centers and are given opportunities for practical training, so "learning a trade has become much easier."

There is a wide range of educational institutions to choose from, including vocational schools, two-year colleges, and four-year universities. Among these, vocational schools offer relatively short, intensive programs lasting from six months to two years. They provide government-supported courses in various subjects such as IT, computers, beauty, hair, carpentry, and tiling. There are also technical training centers run by local governments. In Seoul alone, there are campuses in the eastern, central, southern, and northern districts.

The fastest way is to enroll in a private training center. For example, in the case of wallpapering, you can learn how to wallpaper, estimate costs, and pass certification exams in just three months at a training center. The government also provides support for tuition fees.

I think I'll call my niece today. "How about a field-based job?"

Lee Sukeun, publisher of The Backbone of Employment