The South Korean government plans to assign repetitive administrative tasks, such as unemployment benefit payments and eligibility checks, to artificial intelligence (AI), allowing employment center counselors to focus on direct interactions with job seekers and businesses.
On July 29, the Korea Labor Institute held a discussion on employment service innovation at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, supported by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The event aimed to share the direction and purpose of national employment service innovation and to refine expert opinions to enhance practical implementation.
This initiative comes in response to the rapid advancement of AI and changes in industrial structures, which necessitate preparation for worker transitions and career changes. Experts emphasized that employment services should enhance job mobility and support career development for citizens.
The government plans to shift employment services from an administrative focus to a counseling-centered approach that connects people with jobs.
During the discussion, Gil Hyun-jong, a senior researcher at the Korea Labor Institute, suggested the need for: tailored employment services based on policies and target groups, restructuring of employment center organizations, establishment of digital employment centers, and revitalization of employment center staff. He noted that as the concept of lifelong employment weakens due to the spread of AI and industrial transitions, the role of national employment services should evolve from unemployment management to lifelong career development support.
To start, tasks such as unemployment benefit payments, various allowance calculations, and eligibility checks will be automated through AI and digital systems. For users capable of conducting their own job searches, online job and training recommendations will be provided, while vulnerable job seekers and those needing career transitions will receive focused face-to-face counseling and case management.
The organizational structure will also be revised. Administrative tasks will be separated from employment support duties, and the roles of regional employment centers and frontline centers will be differentiated to allow frontline staff to concentrate on counseling and business support. The online employment support system, 'Employment 24,' will be transformed from a simple administrative portal into a 'digital employment center' that analyzes job seekers' resumes and skills to recommend tailored policies and training.
Ministry of Employment and Labor Vice Minister Kwon Chang-jun stated, "Employment centers should be reliable partners accompanying individuals from the moment they graduate until after retirement. The core of this innovation is to delegate repetitive administrative tasks to AI and fill that space with services that connect people with jobs." He added, "We will carefully review expert opinions to ensure that policies resonate with citizens on the ground."
Lee Byung-hee, head of the Korea Labor Institute, remarked, "This marks a crucial turning point for innovating the public employment service system, which has stagnated for over 20 years, and opens a new window of opportunity. I hope today's discussions serve as a valuable starting point for creating an employment service system that earns greater trust from the public and effectively responds to the changing labor market."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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