Big firms increase hiring in second half - at entry level too

Youth will welcome the news of new, coveted jobs at large corporations, as sizable companies increase the number of positions offered in the second half of the year, according to a survey by the Korea Employers Federation.

At a luncheon yesterday of corporate representatives of the KEF and officials from both governmental and civilian bodies such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the KEF released the findings of a survey it conducted from June 20 to 30 titled, “The recruitment plans of select corporations in the latter half of 2010.”

Of 79 top Korean companies, 39 answered the survey, plus four conglomerate groups: Hanjin, Lotte, Doosan and SK. The companies were chosen by taking the 50 companies with the highest revenue and 50 companies with the most full-time employees.

The overall number of available job positions for these groups and corporations will total 59,085 in 2010, a 15.5 percent increase from last year, and the amount of starting positions will also increase by a similar rate, 15.3 percent, to 53,007.

This, the KEF said, was the product of the economic recovery centered around export-centered manufacturers since the economic crisis of September 2008.

During the latter half of 2010, the increase in new job positions is expected to continue, with a 9.4 percent uptick in total jobs offered compared to the first half and a 12 percent increase of starting positions.

More encouraging is the rising rate of permanent jobs as compared to temporary ones at entry level. Permanent hires will be up 11.9 percent from the first half with 15,205 long-term positions - termed “decent jobs” in the report - available.

The sectors with the most increase in job availability were finance with a 14.6 percent rise to 1,840 positions, electronics with a 8.9 percent rise to 6,480 positions and petrochemicals, which were up 5.5 to 533 positions.

Labor Minister Yim Tae-hee attended to underscore the importance of the event.

“The gravity of job creation for the younger generation is self-evident,” he said. “And those who are looking for jobs later in life, for so-called ‘second round’ jobs, must be provided for as well.”