Millenials, Gen Z generation giving blue-collar work a new identity

Описание: '넥타이 대신 톱'… 2030이 다시 쓰는 블루칼라의 정의

The forgotten trade of working with our hands is making a comeback among young Koreans as AI threatens office jobs.
Our Kim Jun-hong files this report.

Energetic K-pop fills the air at a construction site.
Working to the rhythm, Kim Kwang-hyun, now in his thirties, is a fourth-year carpenter.
He left behind an eight-year career at a company to begin a completely new chapter.

"I worked in sales for years, but felt I had little control over my work and was just draining my energy. That’s when I started looking into carpentry, to build a skill of my own."


With an average age of 29, Kim’s team connects with clients through Instagram, working mainly in trendy districts like Seongsu.
They’re bringing a fresh, youthful touch to the carpentry scene redefining blue-collar work, once viewed as tough and unappealing.


"As more young people turn to getting a trade, a quiet shift is taking place on the training floor. This vocational institute in Seoul is now becoming a new path for people in their 20s and 30s."

Programs like these were, up until recently, mostly utilized by older people seeking retraining, but the rise in interest from younger individuals is evident in the numbers.
In some courses, the proportion of students aged 15 to 39 has increased by nearly 18 percentage points in just two years.

"Since generative AI really took off in 2023, we’ve seen more inquiries from young people about technical training. The value of human skills has grown, along with demand for such workers in the industry."

When asked why, many young people here did.. in fact.. point to artificial intelligence.

"I worked at a design company, but after AI emerged, my role shrank noticeably making me question the sustainability of my career. So I chose welding as it’s harder to replace and a skill I can carry for life."

As the world changes at a rapid pace, young people are carving out new paths.
The trend goes beyond personal choice, pointing to underlying dynamics in the labor market.

"Jobs in South Korea have become fragmented under a dual labor market, adding to overall instability. Blue-collar work, by contrast, is emerging as a more stable option. Labor is not just about earning a living, but about finding meaning and self-realization. In that sense, blue-collar work holds long-term, sustainable potential."

Defined by their boldness and the will to pave their own path, younger workers are taking steps to transform the future of labor.
Kim Jun-hong, Arirang News.

#MZ #Blue_collar #Job #Employment #Worker #Skill #Industry #일자리 #직장 #블루칼라 #산업 #직업 #스킬 #Arirang #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스

📣 Facebook :   / arirangtvnews  
📣 Youtube :    / Канал  
📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/

2026-03-19, 17:00 (KST)