Korea is experiencing a shortage of approximately 40,000 industrial technical workers across key sectors, including semiconductors, biotechnology, healthcare, machinery, electronics, and software. The software industry faces the most significant deficit, requiring an additional 6,561 professionals to maintain normal business operations and production facility functionality.

The Ministry of Trade,Industry and Energy announced these findings on December 31st,based on the ‘2025 Industrial Technology Manpower Supply and Demand Survey’ (data as of the end of 2024). The survey encompassed 21,327 businesses nationwide employing 10 or more individuals. industrial technical personnel are defined as those with a high school diploma or higher working in roles such as research and development, technical management, production, details and communication management, and corporate executive positions.

The survey revealed a total shortage of 39,834 industrial technical personnel in key industries, a 1.6% (644 people) increase from the previous year. The shortage rate was