MANY WANT JOBS AT BIG FIRMS
Many South Korean youths like Ms Han aspire to join large companies where they can earn more. The wage gap between small and large companies has been at almost double for several years.
This has led to a chronic labour shortage at small- and medium-sized firms, which account for 80.9 per cent of employment, reported The Korea Herald last year.
Experts said there is a need to help young workers – many who prefer to focus on non-traditional modes of work – feel more secure. The availability of safety nets and a better support system could encourage them to seek employment opportunities outside of bigger firms, they added.
Dr Lim Tai Wei, adjunct senior research fellow from the National University of Singapore’s East Asian Institute, said part-time jobs in the gig economy are on the rise.
“This changing mode of employment is probably going to be increasing in number, following the examples that you see in even more advanced economies,” he told CNA’s East Asia Tonight programme.
Ms Han said she has mainly been applying for overseas sales positions, as well as roles in strategic planning and purchasing sales management.
“Initially, I aimed for around 50 million won (US$36,300), but it’s rare for companies other than large corporations to offer such salaries. So I’m aiming for over 40 million won, but I’m also applying to positions with lower salaries,” she added.
Ms Han has also struggled with artificial intelligence tests and personality assessments, leading to rejections from prospective employers.
Besides these tests, which aim to gauge whether an applicant fits the company’s culture, many Korean firms require jobseekers to ace English proficiency exams.
