SEOUL : Samsung Group said on Friday it will hire 60,000 people by 2029, as South Korea’s largest conglomerate joins a nationwide corporate drive to boost youth employment and strengthen its pipeline of skilled talent.
The group will recruit about 12,000 workers annually from 2025 to 2029, focusing on semiconductors, biotechnology and artificial intelligence, according to Pulse, the English service of Maeil Business Newspaper.
Samsung’s announcement comes as other major South Korean conglomerates unveil large-scale hiring plans in response to government calls to expand opportunities for young people and support a slowing economy.
Hyundai Motor Group said it would add 7,200 staff in 2025 and 10,000 in 2026, targeting growth in electrification and software-defined vehicles. SK Group expects to take on about 8,000 people in the second half of 2025, while LG Group plans to add 3,500 next year and 10,000 over three years.
Hanwha Group, expanding its defence business, will hire 3,500 this fall. POSCO said it aims to recruit 15,000 workers over the next five years. Together, the eight conglomerates plan about 30,000 new hires in the second half of this year.
“Companies are well aware that if the Korean economy falters, the foundation of their businesses will be shaken,” an industry insider told Pulse.
President Lee Jae-myung this week urged companies to join government efforts to stabilise the economy and create jobs for young workers.