Busan Metropolitan City is launching a "customized job program" tailored to regional industrial demand. The city announced on the 10th that it has selected 14 projects across 14 districts for its "Regional Customized Job Program," providing a total of 700 million won in support.
The program is a competitive grant initiative in which districts and counties form consortiums with nonprofit job-related organizations to develop and operate employment programs reflecting local industrial structures and demographic characteristics. The initiative focuses on building a sustainable regional job ecosystem by combining vocational training with employment placement services.
This year's open call, divided into general employment programs and programs for middle-aged and older workers, resulted in 14 final selections. Representative projects include Jung-gu's ship cargo inspector training, Suyeong-gu's contactless hotel room coordinator professional development, Nam-gu's digital transformation (DX)-based production and quality control youth talent cultivation, and Buk-gu's home interior construction specialist training.
The selections also include Seo-gu and Dong-gu's tourism marketer training, Busanjin-gu's smart healthcare service coordinator course and youth employment program, Yeongdo-gu's maritime industry smart trade practitioner development, and Dongnae-gu's institutional food service cook professional training.
Additionally, various vocational training programs will be implemented, including Gangseo-gu's intellectual property practitioner training for older workers, Haeundae-gu's senior care practitioner development, Yeonje-gu's AI data meister course for new middle-aged workers, Sasang-gu's substitute workforce support project, and Geumjeong-gu's specialized social worker training for people with developmental disabilities.
Through this initiative, the city plans to target employment for approximately 350 people while providing hands-on training combined with job matching services. This year, seven projects were separately selected with a focus on expanding employment for workers aged 50 and above, with 350 million won—half of the total budget—allocated to these programs.
Job seekers can participate through the employment departments at their respective district offices or through the organizations implementing each program. Kim Bong-cheol, Director of the Digital Economy Division, said, "We will continue to expand job policies that reflect regional industrial demand to create employment outcomes that citizens can feel."
