South Korea’s biggest conglomerates — Samsung Group, SK Group and Hyundai Motor Group — have unveiled large-scale hiring commitments aimed at easing the country’s worsening youth employment crisis.
Together, the three firms plan to create 75,200 jobs over the next two years, a move that comes after President Lee Jae Myung urged private businesses to help reverse 16 consecutive months of declining youth employment.
Government data show the youth unemployment rate stood at 5.7% in August, more than double the overall unemployment rate of 2.6%.
Samsung to hire 60,000 through 2030
Samsung announced on Thursday that it will recruit 60,000 new employees in South Korea over the next five years, averaging about 12,000 annually until 2030.
Hiring will focus on semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals, and artificial intelligence, three sectors central to both Samsung’s global strategy and South Korea’s industrial policy.
The announcement aligns with Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee’s pledge to maintain Samsung’s recruitment tradition, with particular attention to youth employment.
Samsung currently employs 221,221 people across its listed entities in Korea, while its global workforce, including private subsidiaries, is estimated at around 500,000.
Samsung has played a central role in shaping Korea’s corporate hiring culture.
It became the first company to launch an open recruitment system in 1957, later introducing the hiring of female college graduates in 1993 and eliminating academic requirements in 1995.
Today, 19 Samsung affiliates — including Samsung Electronics Co., Samsung C&T Corp. and Samsung Biologics Co. — are actively hiring.
The latest recruitment push highlights Samsung’s intention to sustain that legacy while reinforcing South Korea’s position as a hub for advanced technology and manufacturing.
SK Group adds 8,000 in 2024
SK Group, South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate, said it will add 8,000 employees this year.
Half of those positions have already been filled in the first half, with the remaining expected before year-end.
SK operates across a wide range of industries, including semiconductors, energy, batteries, telecommunications and life sciences, making it a key player in sectors where government support for industrial research and innovation is growing.
The planned expansion underscores how major conglomerates are aligning recruitment with national economic objectives, particularly in high-value and export-driven markets.
Hyundai targets 17,200 hires by 2026
Hyundai Motor Group announced a youth hiring plan that includes 7,200 new jobs in 2025 and a further 10,000 in 2026.
The drive is said to be part of its broader strategy to build future mobility capabilities, while also contributing to President Lee’s national employment agenda.
By setting multi-year hiring targets, Hyundai is positioning itself as a long-term contributor to both the automotive industry and the labour market.
The push complements South Korea’s ambitions in electric vehicles and green mobility, sectors where Hyundai is already expanding its global presence.
Government to unveil labour package
The announcements follow President Lee Jae Myung’s call earlier this week to tackle the employment challenge.
Lee emphasised that youth joblessness has now fallen for 16 straight months and urged private companies to step in.
The government is expected to unveil a comprehensive package of labour measures on 22 September, with youth employment at its core.
Alongside these initiatives, Lee’s administration has proposed a record 728 trillion won ($522 billion) budget for 2026, allocating 35.3 trillion won to industrial research and development and 10.1 trillion won to artificial intelligence.
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