Busan Struggles to Recruit School Cafeteria Staff Amidst High Lung Cancer Rates Among Workers

The recruitment market for cafeteria staff in Busan schools has come to a standstill due to concerns over the high rate of lung cancer among workers. If this trend continues and staff shortages persist, it will inevitably result in an increased workload for existing employees, leading to a vicious cycle of staff attrition.

On the 25th, the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education revealed that they were unable to achieve a 1.2-to-1 applicant ratio during the first half of this year's open recruitment for school cafeteria staff. Despite the second call for applicants, only 143 out of the targeted 250 applicants applied, leaving 107 positions (42.8%) unfilled. This is the first time the open recruitment for cafeteria staff in Busan schools has failed to meet the target. In the second half of last year, only 200 applicants applied for 319 open positions. This is a stark contrast to the first half of the same year when 326 candidates applied for 270 positions, resulting in a 1.2-to-1 competition ratio. In 2021, 810 people applied for 366 positions, marking a 2.2-to-1 competition ratio.

The ongoing shortage of cafeteria staff will continue to increase the workload for current employees. The number of successful candidates decreases as ineligible applicants are eliminated during interviews, making it even more difficult to replenish the workforce. Although schools are hiring temporary (non-regular) employees to fill the vacancies, many are reluctant to apply because of the demanding nature of the work.

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education has been grappling to find a solution and identify the cause of the problem since the shortage has persisted even after they abolished the written test (aptitude assessment), which applicants typically avoid. An education office representative said, "We believe the number of lung cancer diagnoses among school cafeteria workers announced by the Ministry of Education last month has had a significant impact on the ongoing shortfall." Out of the 31 confirmed cases of lung cancer among cafeteria workers across 14 cities and provinces, 6 (19.3%) were affiliated with the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education. The proportion of confirmed cases to the total number of screenings was 0.34%, almost three times higher than the national average of 0.13%.

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education announced a plan to improve the working conditions for cafeteria workers on the 24th, including replacing all school cafeteria equipment with electric appliances by 2027. However, critics argue that these measures fall short of addressing the urgent need to secure the required personnel.