South Korea Labor Ministry Steps Up Regional-Industry Workforce Training Coordination

The government is moving to better link regional and industry workforce training systems to respond to artificial intelligence and digital transformation, as well as regional population decline. The plan is to connect region-specific labor demand with needs from worksites to reduce mismatches and build a more effective vocational training system.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea said they are holding a two-day “2026 Integrated Human Resources Development Workshop” in Gyeongju starting on the 23rd to strengthen cooperation between regional and industry human resources development councils.

In its third year, the event brought together about 240 staff members from 17 regional skills councils (RSCs) and 21 industry skills councils (ISCs). Participants shared best practices from last year, identified new joint projects between regions and industries, and took part in programs aimed at strengthening expertise in training and employment.

With broader cooperation emphasized under the government’s “five hubs and three special zones” balanced growth drive, the workshop also discussed developing cross-regional projects that go beyond individual provinces and single industries by linking multiple related regions and sectors.

The Gyeonggi regional council, for example, said it will form a working-level consultative body with the electronics, textile and materials industry councils to identify demand for AI convergence by sector. They plan a joint survey of AI technology needs and related training demand in each field.

The Daejeon and North Gyeongsang regional councils will work with the environmental industry council to develop AI-use training courses for environmental industry workers. They also plan to pursue ways to reflect “environment-AI convergence” jobs in the National Competency Standards, based on skills needed at worksites.

The North Chungcheong and Gangwon regional councils said they will analyze core competencies and technology demand in the bio industry with the chemical and bio industry councils and build regional training-demand data based on the findings.

Pyeon Do-in, director general for vocational skills policy at the ministry, said industrial sites are changing faster than ever amid the “huge wave” of AI and digital transformation, making it necessary for RSCs and ISCs to work together to drive fundamental improvements in education and training systems.

He urged participants to develop practical human resources development measures so that young people “do not lose their dreams” in a rapidly changing technology environment.