Busan City Addresses Employment Mismatches with New Initiatives

Busan City recently held its 9th Busan Metropolitan City Job Committee meeting, where representatives and experts from job-related organizations, the government, and the business community convened to discuss ways to resolve employment mismatches in the region. As employment conditions become more challenging and economic uncertainty rises, job mismatches have intensified, with companies struggling to fill positions and job seekers either unwilling to work or moving out of the region.

To address these challenges, the city has announced the 'Job Match Project for Busan Citizen Happiness Tomorrow,' which includes 11 tasks across four areas: improving working conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), fostering company-customized manpower, strengthening recruitment and job searching, and establishing an employment situation response system.

For SMEs, Busan plans to designate special management areas and industries and provide intensive support for education, training, and job placement. In an effort to address the region's severe job shortages, the city has designated Western Busan areas, including Saha-gu, Gangseo-gu, and Sasang-gu, as special management zones. The shipbuilding and equipment industry, along with the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism business, have also been identified as special management industries. These targeted areas and industries will receive intensive support for education, training, and job placement through the establishment of dedicated support organizations.

Incentives will be offered to employees and companies in these areas and industries to promote employment and recruitment. Furthermore, the city will improve the working environment of companies by establishing the 'SME Environment Business and Grade Project' and expanding welfare services for manufacturing workers.

To foster a company-customized workforce, the city will cultivate specialized manpower for future growth industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technology (ICT) through collaborations among industry, academia, and government. Customized training for host companies will be established to support the timely supply of excellent manpower and the attraction of companies.

The city will also introduce a comprehensive employment support system to provide efficient employment support, including company tours and on-site interviews. This initiative will strengthen the function of the city's job center and upgrade the job information network. Moreover, the city will establish a Skilled Worker Hall of Fame to expand benefits and publicity for excellent employment companies and strengthen the honor of local skilled workers.

Lastly, the city will establish an employment situation response system to preemptively address employment issues. The Busan One-Stop Enterprise Support Center will serve as a dedicated communication channel for SMEs, providing on-site reporting centers and door-to-door services to support the resolution of SME regulations.

Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon emphasized the urgent need for job matching in today's complex and diverse industrial structure. He stated that the city aims to approach the problem of job mismatch with a new perspective, fostering talent in future new growth industries such as digital and eco-friendly industries, and transforming employment due to changes brought on by the 4th industrial revolution.