The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on June 1 that they will jointly hold the "2026 Global Talent Fair" at COEX until June 2. The fair aims to provide quality job opportunities for young job seekers while allowing foreign investment and overseas companies to recruit talented individuals. This year, approximately 360 companies are expected to participate.
Recently, youth employment rates have been on a downward trend. According to data from the National Statistical Office, the employment rate for young people aged 15 to 29 was 43.7% in April, a decrease of 1.6 percentage points compared to the same month last year. This marks the largest decline since August 2024, continuing a 24-month streak of decreases. The number of employed individuals also fell by 194,000.
In response, the government is organizing this fair to support youth employment. During the event, around 18,000 job seekers are expected to participate. Starting this year, support for companies returning from overseas and young job seekers will also be strengthened. Korea Kolmar, the first domestic company to return from outside the capital region this year, will seek young talent at the fair and has set up a separate consulting booth to assist global talent with overseas experience in finding reemployment in Korea.
To help young people navigate the AI era, the fair will invite industry representatives to share insights on corporate trends and employment strategies. An "AI Employment Assistant" booth will also be established to analyze job seekers' skills and job fit using AI technology, matching and recommending them to visiting booths.
The foreign investment company recruitment section will feature around 140 companies, including Amkor Technology Korea and Hitachi Energy Korea. The overseas employment section will host 121 companies, providing both in-person and virtual consultations for young people interested in overseas job opportunities.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-kwan stated, "As investment in securing outstanding talent is essential in the AI era, I hope this fair provides young people with opportunities to expand into a broader world. The government will continue to create favorable conditions for investment and support youth growth."
Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon remarked, "This is a meaningful occasion for our youth to meet global companies, and the government will provide various support to help them build global careers and grow. I urge companies to open up broad opportunities for young talent to grow alongside them."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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