The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 7th that they will be recruiting universities, such as junior colleges and industrial universities, to participate in the youth employment support project until the 31st.
This year's project added graduate-specific programs to the existing university job plus centers and customized employment services for university and high school students.
The newly established graduate-specific program was developed to prevent so-called 'resting youth.' According to Statistics Korea, as of Aug. last year, there were 450,000 'resting youth' who were neither working nor seeking employment.
In this situation, the intention is to find unemployed graduates and provide employment opportunities. The European Union (EU) considers the first four months after university graduation as a 'golden time' for youth employment, asserting that securing job or training opportunities during this period can reduce youth unemployment. Applications are planned to be received from all 120 universities nationwide.
A Ministry of Employment and Labor official noted, “With the recent contraction in the recruitment market exacerbating difficulties for new graduates, we aim to focus support early in their post-graduation phase.”
An additional university operating a university job plus center, which provides integrated employment support services to youth, will be recruited, bringing the total to two. Up to 400 million won will be invested per university.
Furthermore, the number of universities operating customized employment services for students by academic year will increase from 50 last year to 60 this year. The number of universities providing career counseling and planning support for vocational high school and general high school students not pursuing higher education will increase from 20 last year to 30 this year.
Applications for this public offering can be submitted to the employment support department of the relevant employment center. Universities with a university job plus center are eligible to apply for the customized employment services for university students. Detailed information about the project can be found on the Ministry of Employment and Labor's website under announcements.
Hong Kyung-ui, Director of Youth Employment Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said, “Key to this initiative is early intervention to prevent graduates from becoming inactive. We will strengthen a seamless, tailor-made support system from the academic stage to employment after graduation.”