Employment door keeps closing on those without higher education degrees

High school graduates are losing ground in Korea’s largest companies as hiring tightens, non-permanent contracts become more prevalent, and more vocational students choose to further their education over immediate employment. The shift is raising questions about whether career paths like that of former LG Electronics chief Jo Seong-jin can still be replicated.
 

Workers with junior college degrees also declined, falling from 20.5 percent to 11.8 percent. those with university degrees or higher, meanwhile, rose from 52.5 percent to 67.6 percent.

 
The quality of available jobs has also deteriorated. In 2015, nearly 80 percent of high school-educated young workers at major companies held permanent positions. By 2025, that figure had dropped to 61.6 percent. For university-educated workers, the rate stands at 93.7 percent. Temporary and daily employment among high school graduates jumped from 20.2 percent to 38.4 percent, underscoring a growing divide.

ultiple factors are behind the decline. Large companies appear to be closing the door on high school recruitment. One energy company recently suspended its recruitment program for vocational high school graduates due to worsening business conditions.

 
Demand for high school-level positions has also fallen as advances in AI and other technological shifts reshape job structures. “With large companies reducing or even eliminating their university graduate recruitment, demand for high school graduates is declining even more naturally,” said an industry source.

 
Vocational high school students are also choosing university over employment at higher rates, diminishing the original purpose of such schools.

 
Only 25.6 percent entered the work force, according to Ministry of Education statistics released Tuesday on employment outcomes for vocational high school graduates in 2025. Meanwhile, 49.2 percent went on to junior colleges or universities. The higher-education enrollment rate is up 6.7 percentage points from 42.5 percent in 2020.

Some major conglomerates, however, continue to maintain dedicated recruitment tracks for high school graduates.

Source : https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-11-27/national/socialAffairs/Employment-door-keeps-closing-on-those-without-higher-education-degrees/2462916

Comprehension

What trend is happening to high school graduates in Korea’s largest companies?
How has the percentage of workers with junior college degrees changed?
What percentage of workers now have university degrees or higher?
How did permanent job rates for high school graduates change from 2015 to 2025?
What is the permanent employment rate for university-educated workers?
How did temporary and daily employment for high school graduates change?
What reason did one energy company give for suspending high school recruitment?
How is AI affecting demand for high school-level positions?
What percentage of vocational high school students went straight to work?
How many vocational students continued to higher education in 2025?

Discussion

Do you think high school graduates should still have strong job opportunities in big companies? Why or why not?
How does higher education change a person’s job prospects?
What might motivate vocational students to choose a university instead of immediate employment?
Do you agree that AI is reducing jobs for high school graduates? Explain.
How can companies support workers who don’t have university degrees?
Should Korea revamp or enhance its high school recruitment programs?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking a non-permanent job?
How might the decline in high school employment affect the future workforce?

Vocabulary

Nonpermanent Contract – A job agreement that does not guarantee long-term employment.
Vocational School – A school that teaches job-specific skills for careers after high school.
University Graduate – A person who has completed a degree at a university.
Permanent Position – A stable job with long-term employment and benefits.
Temporary Employment – A short-term job without long-term security.
Daily Employment – Work that is hired and paid on a day-to-day basis.
Recruitment – The process of finding and hiring new employees.
Business Conditions – The economic situation affecting a company’s performance.
Technological Shift – A major change caused by new technology, such as AI.
Enrollment Rate – The percentage of students who continue into higher education.