Among the national technical qualifications obtained by more than 1,000 young people, the certificate with the highest employment rate is the machinery maintenance industrial engineer. For the elderly, it is the electrical technician. However, it appears that the most commonly obtained certificates and those favorable for employment differ by age group. Young people most frequently obtained the Computer Proficiency Level 2 certification, while the elderly obtained forklift operation technician certifications. The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Industrial Manpower Corporation disclosed these findings in an analysis of national technical qualifications on the 19th.
◇ Employment rate for young people with machinery maintenance industrial engineer certification at 67.5%…58% employment for the elderly with electrical technician certification
According to the analysis by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the corporation, among 1,553 young individuals who obtained the machinery maintenance industrial engineer certification in 2023, 67.5% (1,049 individuals) found employment. This certification has the highest employment rate among the qualifications obtained by more than 1,000 young people aged 19 to 34.
Following this, the qualifications with high employment rates are electrical industrial engineer (64.3%), industrial hygiene engineer (61.2%), electrical technician (60%), web design technician (59%), industrial safety industrial engineer (57.3%), industrial safety engineer (57.3%), baking technician (56.7%), confectionery technician (56.3%), and construction safety engineer (55.2%).
Among the elderly over 55 who obtained certifications, the electrical technician had the highest employment rate at 58.1%. This was followed by Korean cuisine cooking technician (54.3%), landscaping technician (50.3%), forklift operation technician (44.7%), excavator operation technician (35.9%), architectural painting technician (26.5%), waterproofing technician (24.2%), and ondol heating technician (15.6%).
In terms of the overall age group, the employment rate for electrical industrial engineer was the highest at 73.9%. This was followed by forest technician (71.9%), industrial hygiene engineer (71.5%), fire facility engineer (mechanical field—71.2%), fire facility engineer (electrical field—70.1%), machinery maintenance industrial engineer (69.5%), construction safety engineer (69.1%), forest engineer (67.5%), industrial safety engineer (65.4%), and energy management technician (65.4%).
◇ The elderly most frequently obtain forklift operation technician certification, while young people most commonly acquire the computer proficiency certification
It has been revealed that the certificates with high employment rates and those that are frequently obtained differ.
As of 2023, the certificate most commonly obtained by the elderly is the forklift operation technician, with a total of 9,431 people having acquired it. This is followed by excavator operation technician (5,321 people), electrical technician (4,824 people), landscaping technician (4,377 people), Korean cuisine cooking technician (3,628 people), industrial safety engineer (3,267 people), waterproofing technician (3,040 people), architectural painting technician (2,804 people), construction safety engineer (2,724 people), and ondol heating technician (2,230 people).
Young people most frequently obtained the computer proficiency certification. The Computer Proficiency Level 2 certification had the highest number at 50,512, while Level 1 had 28,682. This was followed by forklift operation technician (25,328 people), industrial safety engineer (15,175 people), information processing engineer (11,377 people), word processor (11,046 people), hazardous materials industrial engineer (7,951 people), industrial safety industrial engineer (7,678 people), excavator operation technician (7,490 people), and baking technician (6,003 people).
Lim Young-i, director of the Department of Occupational Competency Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, noted, "There is a noticeable difference between certifications that people obtain for various purposes and those that lead to high employment rates. This analysis will help job seekers who pursue national technical certifications for employment to choose qualifications that are beneficial for employment and improve their competitiveness."