Among the new hires at South Korea's top 500 listed companies, the most commonly held national technical qualifications are the Computer Proficiency Certifications (CPC), indicating the continued importance of data-driven work skills in the corporate environment.
A survey conducted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) based on data from the Korea Employment Information Service revealed that out of 23,055 young job seekers with national technical qualifications, 9,780 (42.4%) obtained one of the 11 types of qualifications administered by KCCI. In terms of individual categories, the first and second places were held by Level 1 CPC (5,473 individuals) and Level 2 CPC (3,967 individuals), respectively, with a gap of more than double compared to the third place, which was the forklift operator certification (1,891 individuals).
The CPC exam assesses the ability to handle office administration and practical data processing using spreadsheets and databases. It goes beyond basic program functionalities to comprehensively evaluate practical skills in systematically sorting, validating, refining, and extracting vast amounts of data according to specific conditions.
The survey was based on the qualification acquisition status of 65,743 young individuals aged 18 to 34 who joined the top 500 listed companies in 2024, ranked by net profit.
This strong demand is also evident in a long-term trend analysis over the past decade. Excluding the temporary surge in applicants during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021), a comparison of the average number of applicants for written exams before (2016-2019) and after (2022-2025) the pandemic showed that the number of Level 1 CPC applicants increased from an average of 149,000 to 184,000, a rise of 23.4%. Similarly, Level 2 applicants grew from 180,000 to 219,000, marking a 21.3% increase during the same period.
KCCI explained that the steady demand for CPC amid the rise of AI is due to the fact that data insight and foundational skills significantly influence the effectiveness of AI utilization. In real work environments, the ability to correctly structure and validate data is essential.
A 27-year-old employee, identified as Kim, stated, "When I was preparing for employment, there was a strong atmosphere that CPC was essential, so I obtained it. Even after joining the company, I find it useful in my work, and I realize that even when using AI, a verification process is necessary."
Starting in 2027, the new written exam standards will focus on verifying the technical understanding required to effectively utilize AI in practical settings, going beyond simple office knowledge. Specifically, new questions will cover topics such as the principles and learning concepts of AI, examples of AI applications, and the limitations and precautions associated with AI.
Jung Dong-yeol, a professor at Korea University of Technology and Education and vice president of the Korean Association for Vocational Qualifications, emphasized, "No matter how advanced AI becomes, the insight to determine whether the underlying data is structured correctly and whether the flow is logical remains a human responsibility. The Computer Proficiency Certification proves foundational data insight that AI cannot replace."
Kim Ki-soo, head of KCCI's Qualification Evaluation Division, stated, "This analysis confirms that CPC is the most commonly held national technical qualification among young individuals newly hired by the top 500 listed companies. KCCI will continue to improve the CPC to accurately assess the practical skills required in the evolving industrial and work environments."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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