Construction Workers' Welfare Fund trains young tradespeople to fill aging workforce gap

The Construction Workers' Welfare Fund is moving to develop young skilled workers at the vocational high school level, responding to the rapid aging of the construction workforce and a declining influx of young people into the industry.

The fund announced it will hold a "Vocational High School Peer Network Workshop" Thursday and Friday in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

About 50 people are expected to attend, including students and instructors from Cheongpyeong High School and Korea Mobility High School — both enrolled in a vocational high school-linked training program — as well as representatives from the Korea Association of Architectural Construction Master Craftsmen.

Through the "Vocational High School-Linked Youth Construction Workforce Development Program," a project commissioned by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the fund supports vocational high school students in understanding the construction industry and acquiring the technical skills needed on site. The fund said early development of skilled construction workers has become urgent as the workforce ages rapidly and young people increasingly avoid the sector.

The workshop will cover the program's operational status and training outcomes and feature special lectures on construction industry trends and changes by trade. Practical training in blueprint reading and workplace etiquette will also be provided.

Participants will visit Lotte Engineering & Construction's Safety On facility, where they will experience firsthand hazardous situations that can occur on site, including falls and construction equipment accidents. The program aims to strengthen their safety awareness and emergency response skills.

A peer network program will allow students to share hands-on training experiences and outcomes across schools. The fund said it hopes that expanding exchanges between schools will help students develop a sense of belonging and collaborative skills as aspiring construction tradespeople.

Construction Workers' Welfare Fund Chairman Jang Geon said developing talented young skilled workers early and supporting them in settling into the field is essential to the sustainable growth of the construction industry. "We hope this becomes an opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of construction and build their safety awareness and practical on-site capabilities," he said.