Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province to invest W10.1b in future mobility jobs

Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province will invest 10.1 billion won ($7.53 million) this year to help future mobility companies secure talent and support workers in settling in the region. The initiative will train young research and development workers and connect them with local employers, while covering housing and commuting costs for workers who travel between the two areas.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor launched the project Thursday alongside Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province at Stanford Hotel in Andong. The initiative — formally called the Daegyeong-gwon Gwangyeong-ieum Regional Employment Project — aims to link regional industries with talent across administrative boundaries, supporting workers from training through employment and local settlement. This year, the project is being pursued across three regions: Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province, and the Chungcheong region. Funding for the Daegu–North Gyeongsang Province portion totals 8.1 billion won from the national government and 2 billion won from local authorities.

Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province will train young R&D workers for the future mobility sector and support local companies in hiring them. Middle-aged and older workers will receive employment services including career counseling, while incumbent workers will get support for building job skills. The two regions will also co-host a job fair and establish a cooperative network among companies and employment-related agencies.

After workers are placed, the project will help ease housing and commuting costs for those who cross provincial boundaries within the region for work, and assist companies in improving workplace conditions. Joint R&D conducted by prime contractors, subcontractors and partner firms in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province will also be eligible for support.

Im Yeong-mi, director general for employment policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said the project "will support both companies' technological innovation and workers' growth, and serve as a catalyst for the development of the future mobility industry to translate into good jobs in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province."