The material in this article comes from the Internet, if it is inconsistent with the actual situation or there is infringement, please contact to delete.
One summer day in 2022, the once bustling Daerim-dong employment agency in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, is now deserted. In the once lively recruitment area, only two-fifths of the places are still waiting. The entire agency, now only 63 years old, answering the distant "worker seeker" call.
At one time, there were also two employees who were responsible for bridging the needs of workers and businesses. However, as South Korea chose to lie flat during the pandemic, the number of job seekers plummeted, resulting in the fact that only bosses are needed to watch over now.
The main task is to receive recruitment companies and answer calls for "employment". There are very few people who come to seek employment. Although employment agencies are hardly visited every day, companies that desperately need workers still send people in and don't want to miss out on any possible recruitment opportunities. And some small enterprises, due to insufficient manpower, can only hope to "catch the fish that slipped through the net" on the phone.
Although employment agencies are crowded, opportunities for job seekers are not missed. The person in charge smiled wryly and said: "Although there are many companies that recruit workers, there are only one or two job seekers every day. ”
This scenario is not limited to Daerim-dong employment agencies, the vast majority of employment agencies throughout Seoul and even throughout South Korea are deserted. Chinese who work in South Korea chose to leave after the epidemic, so that employment agencies are no longer busy.
According to data from South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor, in the first quarter of 2022, despite the active recruitment of companies, the employment gap was as high as 174,000! Compared to the same period last year, this is an increase of 70%!
The large number of vacancies has left many South Korean companies in trouble, especially small factories, restaurants and employment agencies.
In Daerim-dong, Seoul, there used to be 80 employment agencies, but as the number of job seekers decreased, in the first half of this year alone, it decreased by a full 10.
However, even small factories and restaurants, although their wages are not as good as those of large enterprises, are still higher than before the epidemic or even before the "lie flat to fight the epidemic". According to a staff member at an employment agency that introduces jobs as "rich butlers," the daily wage has increased from 80,000 won before the epidemic to 120,000 won, and the hourly wage is about 15,000 won.
It is worth noting that although housekeeper work may seem unseemly, working 8 hours a day, based on 22 days, the monthly salary reaches 2.64 million won, in fact, most housekeepers also enjoy paid weekends, which may exceed 3 million won per month.
However, even the high-paying service industry is not in the spotlight today. Hiring restaurant waiters and assembly line workers is equally difficult.
The main reason for this phenomenon is that Chinese left South Korea, and the reasons are not complicated, but there are two main points. First, the South Korean government chose to "lie flat to fight the epidemic", Chinese unwilling to take the risk of the epidemic and returned to China. Second, the pandemic has prevented Chinese from returning home over the past three years, and with high-paying jobs in South Korea, many people have enough savings to return home to rest, live or start a business.
In short, if you make enough money, why continue to work in South Korea at the risk of the pandemic? It is even more tempting to return home and enjoy a life free of the threat of the epidemic.
However, Chinese's departure is only a superficial cause of South Korea's labor crisis. The real core reason is South Korea's aging society and "lying flat against the epidemic".
According to the Statistics Agency of Korea, as of November 1, 2021, the total population of South Korea fell by 0.2% for the first time, with a total population of 51.738 million. Although South Korea's own population growth has long stagnated, thanks to a large number of foreign workers, South Korea's social economy has not been seriously affected.
Although the aging problem is still serious, South Korean society still has a large number of foreign low-end labor to fill the vacancies, such as garbage sorters, dishwashers, security guards, taxi drivers and couriers.
However, the outbreak of the new crown epidemic directly threatens the elderly, and many elderly South Koreans have chosen to stop subsidizing their children and live in seclusion on their own. As South Korea chooses to "lie flat to fight the epidemic", more elderly people are forced to join.
The departure of foreign workers and the seclusion of the elderly have further exacerbated the aging problem in South Korea
Machine.
However, the root cause of this problem is the South Korean government's underestimation of the impact of "lying flat against the epidemic". Especially the impact on Chinese and the elderly. After all, whether it's children, work, or life itself, who wants to have frequent contact with the virus?
Especially the elderly, once diagnosed, may be life-threatening, so many elderly people choose to avoid risks and suspend contact with their children. As the impact of "lying flat to fight the epidemic" intensifies, more and more elderly people are forced to live in seclusion.
However, Chinese's departure is only a symptom of South Korea's labor crisis. The fundamental problem lies in South Korea's aging society and anti-epidemic policies. As of November 1, 2021, South Korea's total population fell by 0.2% for the first time, to 51.738 million, according to the Statistics Agency of Korea. Although South Korea's own population growth rate has stagnated, South Korea's socio-economy has not been severely affected thanks to a large number of foreign workers.
Despite the aging problem, there are still many low-end foreign workers filling the vacancy in Korean society, such as garbage sorters, dishwashers, security guards, taxi drivers and couriers.
However, the outbreak of the new crown epidemic directly threatens the elderly, and many elderly South Koreans choose to stop subsidizing their children and choose to live in seclusion. As South Korea chooses to "lie flat and fight the epidemic", more and more elderly people are forced to participate.
The departure of foreign workers, the seclusion of the elderly, and the aging of South Korea are deepening the crisis. The whole situation has exposed the negligence of the Korean government in its anti-epidemic policies and labor management.
In short, the South Korean government has underestimated the impact of "lying flat against the epidemic", especially on Chinese and the elderly. This has led to an intensifying labor shortage crisis, and South Korea's economy and society are facing serious challenges. More in-depth thinking and coping strategies are needed to revitalize South Korea's labor market and economic vitality.
- Real Planet report completed.
The above content and materials are derived from the Internet, and the author of this article does not intend to target or allude to any real country, political system, organization, race, individual. The above does not mean that the author of this article endorses the laws, rules, opinions, behaviors in the article and is responsible for the authenticity of the relevant information. The author of this article is not responsible for any problems arising above or related to the above and does not assume any direct or indirect legal liability.
Due to the rules of the platform, you will only be recognized as a fan if you have more interaction with me. If you like my article, you can click "Follow", and you can receive the article push as soon as you become an iron fan. This article is only published in today's headlines, please do not move.