Hiring platforms boom amid competition for foreign talent... job applications up 323% annually

[Financial News] The foreign hiring market is expanding as more foreign nationals seek jobs in Korea and more companies look for foreign talent.
According to Saramin Co., Ltd. on the 3rd, the number of foreign members on Comate, a hiring platform for foreign nationals, grew at an average annual rate of 260.1% from its launch in 2024 through the end of October this year. The number of job applications submitted by foreign members also rose at an average annual rate of 323.4% over the same period.
Demand from companies for foreign hires has also grown. The number of corporate members increased at an average annual rate of 159.4%, while the number of new job postings rose 349.1%. The figures show growth not only in job seekers joining the platform but also in companies using it to hire foreign talent.
Among foreign job seekers, the influx of international students at universities in Korea was also notable. The number of members holding student visas (D-2) increased at an average annual rate of 197.7% over the same period. Comate is also expanding its partnerships with universities, recently working with Hanyang University to build an employment management system for international students. The system helps universities manage data on employment support for students and compile related statistics.
However, companies continue to face difficulties in hiring foreign nationals. In a survey of 114 companies conducted by Comate last June, 43% of respondents cited verifying applicants’ qualifications as a major challenge. Other key difficulties included a lack of information about visas and administrative procedures (37.7%) and finding suitable talent (36%).
Comate offers features including AI-based job posting recommendations, multilingual translation and visa-related information. It plans to ease the hiring burden on companies by enhancing verification for foreign nationals and visa-related features, as well as AI-based talent matching.
A Saramin Co., Ltd. representative said, “The foreign hiring market is becoming increasingly important in terms of addressing labor shortages and expanding global businesses,” adding, “We plan to broaden our services beyond simply connecting companies with foreign job seekers to include support for managing international students and helping them settle in Korea.”
[email protected] Lee Ju-mi Reporter