The Ministry of Employment and Labor has finalized the quota for new employment permit foreign workers (E-9) for next year at 130,000, reducing it by 21% compared to this year. This reduction comes four years after 2021, in the aftermath of not filling even half of this year's historically largest quota.
On the 20th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor held the 45th Foreign Workforce Policy Committee and finalized the 2025 E-9 introduction operational plan.
The confirmed E-9 quota for next year is 130,000, a reduction of 35,000 (21%) compared to the previous year (165,000). This is the first time since 2021 that the Ministry of Employment and Labor has reduced the foreign workforce quota in four years.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor had maintained an annual quota of 56,000 foreign workers around the time of the COVID-19 outbreak. Afterwards, it was reduced to 52,000 in 2021, then increased consecutively to 69,000 in 2022 and 120,000 in 2023, making this year’s quota the largest in history.
However, the foreign workforce employment permits this year have fallen far below the government expectations. As of the end of November, the figure stands at 70,460, not even half of this year's quota. The government anticipates that a total of 80,000 will be permitted by the year’s end.
In this regard, a Ministry official noted, “There have been cyclical changes and an increase in foreign workers using different visas,” while admitting, “It is true that the permitted workforce was small this year, so we tried to calculate it more carefully for next year.”
The workforce introduction for E-9 next year of 130,000 can work in industries such as ▲ manufacturing (72,000) ▲ agriculture and livestock (10,000) ▲ fisheries (8,500) ▲ service (3,000) ▲ shipbuilding (2,500) ▲ construction (2,000). As for 32,000, they are allocated flexibly and will be assigned additionally to industries exceeding demand.
Min-seok Kim, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, said, “We have reflected enough flexible allocations to ensure there is no shortage in resolving labor shortages, even with unforeseen changes next year,” adding, “We plan to continuously pursue system improvements so that necessary manpower can be utilized in a timely manner.”