South Korea is witnessing a surge in interest for technical jobs, especially among younger generations, as better wages and job security attract more workers to fields traditionally seen as less desirable.
Training schools in Suwon that specialize in pipe welding are seeing a growing number of students in their 20s. Just five years ago, it was rare to find students younger than 30, but now more than half of the students are in their 20s.
In the past, technical jobs were often associated with long hours and low pay, which led many young people to avoid these fields. However, that perception is changing, and young people are increasingly drawn to technical jobs, attracted by the promise of higher earnings compared to office jobs and the advantage of having no mandatory retirement age.
Kim Jong-hoon, the head of one such school, said, “After just three months of training, pipe welders can start working and earn anywhere from 5 million ($3,71() to 10 million won ($7,439) per month.”
In South Korea, interest in technical jobs is on the rise. People from a wide range of age groups, from those in their 20s just starting their careers to those in their 40s and 50s seeking a career change, are entering technical fields.
For example, Mr. Kim, who is 49 years old and used to work in electronic product development, including fingerprint scanners, transitioned to running a specialized air conditioner cleaning business eight years ago.
He explained, “In most small and medium-sized companies, it’s difficult to keep working into your 50s because of limited promotion opportunities, but in technical fields, that’s not a concern, which is why I decided to switch careers. Over the past three years, interest in these jobs has surged, and many new businesses have sprung up.”
The increasing preference for technical jobs is largely driven by higher wages.
According to a report from the Construction Association of Korea and the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Businesses, the average daily wage for technicians handling high-voltage cables was $313 for an 8-hour shift, which equates to over $6,249 per month. Scaffolders, who install temporary structures on construction sites, earned an average of $209 per day, welders earned $195, and plasterers earned $190. A construction industry representative added, “Since overtime and night shifts are common, many workers actually earn 50% more than these average figures.”
Despite the growing interest in technical fields, the demand for skilled workers still outstrips supply. In other words, having the rfight skills almost guarantees job opportunities.
A representative from a company in Pyeongtaek that installs, repairs, and dismantles 22,900-volt high-voltage cables shared, “We offer competitive wages and even provide company-sponsored training for power distribution technician certifications, but we still struggle to find applicants. Even the company president has to work on-site.”
Choi, a 37-year-old electrician who has been installing electrical wiring in department stores and outlet malls for the past two years, added, “I get so many requests for work that it’s hard to take a day off. One of the best things about this job is that you can choose when and how much you want to work.”
As perceptions of technical jobs improve in S. Korea, new services have emerged to help connect workers with job opportunities in these fields.
Last December, a group of graduates from POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) launched an HR startup called DeepLeHR. They developed a specialized job platform, GochoDaejol.com, which focuses exclusively on recruiting for technical and manufacturing positions.
Although these jobs account for about 30% of the overall job market, young people unfamiliar with these fields often struggle to find suitable openings. Currently, 71.5% of applicants on GochoDaejol.com are in their 20s, and the platform now boasts more than 150,000 monthly active users.
