Government seeks measures to support employment-vulnerable groups across all age groups... “Winter direct job programs for vulnerable groups to be carried out without disruption”

[Financial News] The government has decided to step up efforts to advance its National Jobs Project, including identifying initiatives to support employment-vulnerable groups across all age groups, such as young people, middle-aged people who retired early, and older people. It also plans to oversee budget execution for direct job programs for vulnerable groups during the year-end winter season, as well as next year’s budget review and program preparations.
Kwon Dae-young, First Vice Minister of Finance and Economy, chaired the 2026 13th joint interagency Job Task Force (TF) meeting at the Government Complex Seoul on the 11th and discussed these issues.
According to the employment trends released by the government that day, the number of employed people rose by 139,000 in October this year compared with the same month a year earlier. However, difficulties persist, with manufacturing employment returning to a decline and the drop in the youth employment rate widening to 1.7 percentage points.
The government says it will promptly draw up the plan to advance the National Jobs Project, which was mentioned at an earlier meeting. It also plans to develop job-related initiatives targeting young people, older people, and middle-aged people who retired early, while discussing ways to improve access to training opportunities to support the basic skills needed by workers and jobseekers in the age of artificial intelligence transformation (AX).
The government says it will carry out direct job programs to stabilize the incomes and employment of vulnerable groups during the winter without disruption through the end of the year. It will also step up preparations, including responding to next year’s budget review and drawing up program plans.
“Jobs are the most important channel and lifeline through which the warmth of export-led economic growth reaches domestic demand and people’s livelihoods,” Vice Minister Kwon said. “We will make improving job conditions as experienced by vulnerable groups our top priority and bring together the capabilities of relevant ministries to do our utmost at every stage, including drawing up plans to advance the National Jobs Project, completing this year’s programs without disruption, and preparing next year’s programs.”


[email protected] Kim Jun-hyeok Reporter