The Ministry of Education announced plans to cultivate 1 million personnel in the digital field, but an audit report revealed that the actual effect on workforce supply would be limited to about 560,000 people. Concerns have been raised that many of the 30 government financial support projects for training 150,000 semiconductor personnel target individuals already employed by corporations, offering no effect in supplying new personnel.
The Board of Audit and Inspection released the audit results regarding 'responding to the Fourth Industrial Revolution – workforce training' on the 1st. According to the Board of Audit and Inspection, when the Ministry of Education established the 'Comprehensive Plan for Cultivating Digital Talent' in August 2022, it reflected that the workforce demand in the digital field was projected to be 738,000 people, resulting in a plan to cultivate 1 million digital personnel. It was decided to utilize 78 financial support projects from five ministries for personnel training.
The Board of Audit and Inspection found that among the 78 projects, five were effectively abolished, as no budget was allocated for them from 2023 to 2025. Additionally, it was revealed that 24 projects targeted personnel unrelated to digital sub-technologies in eight fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), metaverse, 5G/6G, general software, big data, and cybersecurity for financial support.
The Board of Audit and Inspection noted, 'The actual demand for personnel trained in the digital field is only 766,000, and considering the actual employment rate, the real effect of workforce supply will be merely 564,000.' They also stated that while more personnel are expected to be supplied than demanded in AI and the metaverse, a shortage of personnel is anticipated in six technologies, including big data.
Concerns have also been raised that sufficient personnel will not be supplied in the semiconductor field. According to the Board of Audit and Inspection, when the Ministry of Education established its 'Semiconductor Talent Cultivation Plan' in July 2022, it stated that based on the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's prediction that the workforce demand over the next ten years would be 127,000, it would cultivate a total of 151,000 people, including a surplus of 24,000 personnel by 2031. Of the 151,000, 46,000 would be filled by university graduates in semiconductor majors, and a roadmap was presented to train 105,000 through 30 financial support projects from five ministries.
The audit results indicated that among the 30 projects, one was effectively abolished after 2023. Furthermore, seven projects targeted individuals already employed in semiconductor corporations, thus having no effect on new personnel supply.
The Board of Audit and Inspection pointed out that 'the actual personnel supply effect is 55,000,' stating, 'It appears difficult to sufficiently supply the required personnel in the semiconductor field by 2031.'
Reflecting these audit results, the Board of Audit and Inspection notified the Minister of Education to rationally improve the method of estimating the effects of personnel supply in the semiconductor field through government policies, excluding currently employed individuals in semiconductor corporations who do not contribute to new personnel supply.