[Report] "Worried About Jobs Amid Government's 'Crackdown on Construction Firms'"...Crowded Recruitment Briefing Leaves Young Job Seekers Uneasy

Joint Recruitment Briefing Revived After Six Years by Korea Construction Association
Concerns Over Reduced Hiring Amid Government Pressure
23 Companies Including Hyundai, GS, Hoban, and Kyeryong Participate
Over 500 Job Seekers Flock to the

"Since last year, I have constantly heard that the construction industry is facing difficulties. Recently, the government has continued to make strong statements pressuring construction companies, which made me anxious. I was worried that there might be a reduction in recruitment."

Ma Subin (24), a graduate student majoring in civil engineering at Inha University, explained her reason for attending the "2025 Smart Construction Youth Talent Recruitment Briefing" held at the Construction Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on September 18. Aspiring to work in design, she said, "I came here because I want to find a job at an engineering firm that utilizes my major after completing my master's program."

Hyundai Construction's Ho Won Lee, Senior Manager, is conducting a recruitment briefing session. Photo by Yu Kyo.

As a job seeker with a keen interest in the construction industry, she was well aware of the president's remarks targeting construction safety and the "Comprehensive Labor Safety Measures" announced by the new administration. An undergraduate student majoring in safety engineering at a university in Seoul, on the other hand, saw the current situation as an opportunity. He said, "I was concerned that recruitment might decrease because the government has made many statements targeting construction companies, but I believe there are still opportunities in the field of safety, as it is an area that cannot be reduced." He added, "With graduation coming up next year, I wanted to check the specific recruitment criteria in person, which is why I came."

This joint recruitment briefing was hosted by the Korea Construction Association and supported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Construction Companion Committee, the Construction Industry Social Contribution Foundation, and Incruit. The event, which had been suspended since COVID-19, returned this year for the first time in six years. This year, a total of 23 organizations participated, including 11 private companies such as Hyundai Construction, GS Construction, Hoban Construction, Kyeryong Construction, Jeil Construction, Woomee Construction, Kumho Construction, Doosan Construction, Dongbu Construction, IS Dongseo, and Dohwa Engineering; 8 public enterprises related to construction, such as Korea Expressway Corporation and Housing and Urban Guarantee Corporation (HUG); and associations and groups such as the Construction Guarantee Cooperative. The number of new hires these organizations are expected to recruit in the second half of this year is estimated to be about 1,500.

According to the organizers, about 400 people had registered in advance, but it is estimated that more than 500 actually attended the event. The 160 seats in the large auditorium on the second floor, where individual company briefings were held, were filled early in the morning. Dozens of people stood in the hallway to listen to the presentations. The job seekers took notes on the presentations using pens, laptops, and tablets, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a university lecture hall.

During Hyundai Construction's recruitment session, questions reflecting concerns about the recent trend of preferring "experienced new hires" poured in, such as "Do you prefer applicants with prior experience?" and "Is field experience absolutely necessary?" Ho Won Lee, Senior Manager at Hyundai Construction's HR department, responded, "It is natural for new applicants to have no experience," and added, "Our company does not give preference to experienced new hires." He further explained, "However, since all new hires are assigned to field work, demonstrating a willingness to work on-site can be helpful."

Job seekers are waiting for their turn to consult at company booths, engaging in conversations. Photo by O Yu-gyo.

Companies set up their own booths to welcome job seekers. The Hyundai Construction consultation booth was so crowded that they had to add an extra table. The consultations were conducted in a manner similar to a restaurant's table reservation system: applicants received a waiting number and entered in order when notified. At the personal color consulting booth, dozens of people lined up, creating a bustling scene.

An event official said, "Personal color analysis is trending these days, and it seems participants flocked here to make a better impression in interviews. Outside, receiving professional consultant advice takes considerable time and money, but here it was free, so the popularity exceeded expectations."

In addition, the event featured various side programs such as artificial intelligence (AI) mock interviews and free resume photo shoots. This year, in particular, a smart construction technology promotion booth was set up, allowing participants to experience the latest technologies actually applied in the field. A representative from the Korea Construction Association said, "This event confirmed that, despite the downturn, interest and demand for the construction industry among young people remain strong. As a large-scale event where major domestic construction companies and public enterprises gathered in one place, we hope it provided real opportunities for young people aspiring to work in the construction sector."