The number of high-skilled workers in South Korea increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, with a significant rise in the semiconductor sector, as per government data. The total count of industrial technology workers reached 1.74 million by the end of 2024, showing a 1.1% rise from the previous year. These workers encompass technicians, manufacturers, IT professionals, research and development personnel, and company executives.
Over 60% of these skilled workers were engaged in South Korea’s key industries, including semiconductors, bio, automobiles, defense, and IT. Notably, the semiconductor industry witnessed the highest growth in high-skilled jobs at 4.3%, followed by the bio and IT sectors at 4% and 2.1%, respectively. On the other hand, the shipbuilding sector saw growth in high-skilled jobs for the second consecutive year after eight years of decline, while the textile sector experienced a decrease for the fifth straight year.
The shortage of industrial technology workers in relation to business demand was around 39,834, with a shortage rate of 2.2%, consistent since 2020. In response to the United States’ decision to increase visa fees for professionals, the South Korean government allocated 5.12 billion won (US$3.58 million) from its reserve fund in October to support programs aimed at attracting foreign talents. This budget will be utilized for promotional initiatives to draw skilled foreign workers following the U.S. visa policy adjustment.
