Six out of 10 students want to work abroad (image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Korea Bizwire) – More than half of South Korean college students want to find overseas jobs, a survey showed Monday, reflecting their pessimism over the country’s ever-worsening job market and stressful life in Korea Inc.
In a nationwide survey of 2,361 students from 132 universities, 59.3 percent responded they prefer overseas jobs over local jobs when considering corporate culture and work conditions, according to Hyundai Research Institute.
The rate of response was higher among female students at 63.3 percent compared with 54.6 percent of male students, according to the poll conducted by the institute on request from local student and civic groups.
Monthly regular statistics from the government indicate unrelenting tough job conditions for the young. An annual report by state-run Statistics Korea showed that the unemployment rate in the 15-29 age bracket reached a record 9 percent in 2014.
Even after employment, South Koreans face notoriously long working hours, 44.6 hours per week in 2013, the highest among advanced economies, according to government data.
The poll also highlighted growing disparity in job opportunities for students from high-income and low-income households.
A total 67.3 percent of students who identified themselves as coming from high-income families said they believe they will get jobs they want. The rate fell to 45.4 percent for students who classified themselves as a member of a low-income household.
“This comes in line with growing social concerns over solidifying succession of wealth and poverty, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer,” said Kim Byung-gyu, an official who managed the survey.
