Samsung Group, South Korea's top conglomerate, said Monday it will create some 30,000 new jobs for the younger generation over the next two years, a move to help tackle protracted youth unemployment in line with the government's efforts to improve the job market.
Samsung said in its youth job creation plan that it will offer traineeships to 3,000 candidates who are seeking to work for one of its subcontractors. The family-run conglomerate said it plans to pay for the trainees' monthly wages of 1.5 million won ($1,270).
These trainees and interns will then be given an opportunity to apply for positions at Samsung affiliates after working for the subcontractors for more than four years.
This process is expected to attract more talented people to subcontractors, which are having a hard time recruiting employees as jobseekers prefer to work for big companies.
Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun said the conglomerate is committed to meeting all of its social obligations in regard to job creation.
"The goal is to create a virtuous cycle where employment and economic growth go hand-in-hand," the executive said.
Samsung, moreover, said it will hire 1,600 workers from specialized high schools and universities that focus on the IT sector, such as mobile, semiconductors and software.
The business group said it has inked cooperative arrangements with 29 universities, nine technical collages and 26 high schools to train workers that can meet its affiliates' requirements.
It will also offer 8,600 internships and work experience positions in the financial and sales fields, while planning to create 10,000 jobs through fresh investment.
Of these programs, 2,000 young people will be given the opportunity to gain first-hand experience at Samsung's domestic sales outlets for three months. It will, moreover, hire 2,000 insurance salespeople in the coming months.
Samsung affiliates like Hotel Shilla, Samsung Everland amusement park and several electronic plants are expected to hire some 10,000 people up to 2017 as they expand their business areas.
Samsung also said it plans to adopt a wage peak system for all of its employees starting in 2016. Under the plan, the wages of workers over 56 will be cut 10 percent per year until their retirement age of 60, although various welfare measures will not be affected.
Samsung's plan comes as the government is aggressively working to improve the job market for the youth. The real jobless rate of people between 19 and 29 stood at 9.4 percent in July, much higher than the headline unemployment rate of 3.7 percent, according to government data.
Late last month, the government said it will join hands with private companies to create 200,000 jobs for the youth over the next three years in a bid to cope with the high youth unemployment.
The ambitious plan includes 75,000 full-time jobs from the public and private sectors, while the other 125,000 will mostly consist of new internships from private companies. The government also said it will work to permanently increase employment opportunities for young adults. (Yonhap)