Job seekers in Korea spend $400 monthly preparing for employment, survey finds

Young job seekers in Korea spent an average of 580,000 won per month preparing for employment, according to a survey released Monday. The Federation of Korean Industries commissioned Mono Research to survey 1,000 people ages 19 to 34 from Sept. 10-18. Nearly 7 in 10 respondents said the costs were financially burdensome, with certification and language-test fees taking the largest share. Respondents most often called for subsidies covering test fees and housing assistance.

Certification and language-test fees accounted for 30.7 percent of respondents’ preparation budgets, followed by education costs at 22.6 percent and textbooks and study materials at 16.1 percent.

People who had prepared for employment for three years or more spent an average of 800,000 won per month, compared with 560,000 won among those preparing for less than six months.

Applicants targeting large corporations spent an average of 700,000 won monthly, compared with 630,000 won for midsize companies and 590,000 won for small businesses.

Family support was the most common funding source at 32.8 percent, followed by part-time or other earned income at 29.5 percent and personal savings at 27.3 percent.

Some 70.8 percent of respondents lived with their parents, while 29.2 percent lived independently.

Published Oct 19, 2026 11:35 am KST

Job seekers fill out résumés at the 2026 Busan Youth Mega Job Fair at BEXCO Exhibition Center in Haeundae District, Busan, Sept. 21. Yonhap

Nearly 7 in 10 young job seekers in Korea feel financially strained by the cost of finding work, spending an average of 580,000 won ($400) a month on exam fees, training and other preparation, according to a survey released Monday.

The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) commissioned Mono Research to survey 1,000 job seekers ages 19 to 34 nationwide from Sept. 10-18.

Respondents spent the largest share of their preparation budgets on certification and language-test fees, which accounted for 30.7 percent, followed by education costs at 22.6 percent and textbooks and study materials at 16.1 percent.

The financial burden was particularly pronounced among those who had spent three years or more preparing for employment, whose monthly expenses averaged 800,000 won, compared with 560,000 won for those preparing for less than six months.

Job seekers ages 30 to 34 spent an average of 600,000 won a month, more than those ages 25 to 29, who spent 580,000 won, and those ages 19 to 24, who spent 560,000 won.

By academic field, respondents studying education, medicine and health reported the highest monthly costs, at 740,000 won, followed by arts and physical education majors at 690,000 won.

Those hoping to join large corporations spent an average of 700,000 won monthly, exceeding the 630,000 won reported by applicants targeting midsize companies and 590,000 won among those seeking jobs at small businesses.

Overall, 69.3 percent said employment preparation costs were burdensome, while just 7.3 percent said they did not feel financially strained.

Family support was the most common funding source, cited by 32.8 percent of respondents, followed by part-time or other earned income at 29.5 percent and personal savings at 27.3 percent.

Some 70.8 percent lived with their parents, compared with 29.2 percent who lived independently.

When asked which policies would most help ease the burden, respondents most often called for subsidies for certification and language-test fees, at 25.9 percent, followed by housing assistance, including rent support, at 16.7 percent.

Lee Sang-ho, head of the federation’s economic affairs division, said expanded support for test fees and education costs was needed, particularly to ease the financial pressure on young people from low-income households.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

根据周一公布的一项调查显示，韩国年轻求职者平均每月花费58万韩元用于求职准备。韩国产业联合会委托Mono Research于9月10日至18日对1000名19至34岁的受访者进行了调查。近七成受访者表示这些费用造成了沉重的经济负担，其中资格认证和语言考试费用占比最大。受访者最常呼吁政府提供考试费用补贴和住房援助。

认证和语言考试费用占受访者备考预算的 30.7%，其次是教育费用（22.6%）和教科书及学习资料（16.1%）。

准备就业三年或三年以上的人平均每月花费 80 万韩元，而准备就业不到六个月的人平均每月花费 56 万韩元。

针对大型企业的申请者平均每月花费 70 万韩元，而针对中型企业的申请者平均每月花费 63 万韩元，针对小型企业的申请者平均每月花费 59 万韩元。

家庭资助是最常见的资金来源，占比 32.8%，其次是兼职或其他收入，占比 29.5%，个人储蓄占比 27.3%。

约 70.8% 的受访者与父母同住，而 29.2% 的受访者独立生活。

发布于2026年10月19日上午11:35（韩国标准时间）

9月21日，求职者在釜山海云台BEXCO展览中心举行的2026釜山青年大型招聘会上填写简历。（韩联社）

根据周一公布的一项调查显示，韩国近七成年轻求职者因找工作的成本而感到经济压力，平均每月在考试费、培训费和其他准备费用上花费 58 万韩元（约合 400 美元）。

韩国工业联合会（FKI）委托 Mono Research 于 9 月 10 日至 18 日对全国 1000 名 19 至 34 岁的求职者进行了调查。

受访者将备考预算中最大的一部分用于认证和语言考试费用，占比 30.7%，其次是教育费用，占比 22.6%，以及教科书和学习资料，占比 16.1%。

对于那些花了三年或更长时间准备就业的人来说，经济负担尤其明显，他们的月均支出为 80 万韩元，而准备时间不到六个月的人的月均支出为 56 万韩元。

30 至 34 岁的求职者平均每月花费 60 万韩元，高于 25 至 29 岁的求职者（每月花费 58 万韩元）和 19 至 24 岁的求职者（每月花费 56 万韩元）。

按学术领域划分，教育、医学和健康专业的受访者报告的月支出最高，为 740,000 韩元，其次是艺术和体育教育专业的学生，​​为 690,000 韩元。

希望加入大型企业的人平均每月花费 70 万韩元，超过了以中型企业为目标的求职者所报告的 63 万韩元，以及在小型企业寻求工作的求职者所报告的 59 万韩元。

总体而言，69.3% 的人表示就业准备费用负担沉重，而只有 7.3% 的人表示他们没有感到经济压力。

家庭支持是最常见的资金来源，32.8% 的受访者表示支持，其次是兼职或其他收入，占 29.5%，个人储蓄占 27.3%。

约 70.8% 的人与父母同住，而 29.2% 的人独立生活。

当被问及哪些政策最有助于减轻负担时，受访者最常呼吁的是补贴认证和语言考试费用（25.9%），其次是住房援助，包括租金支持（16.7%）。

该联合会经济事务部部长李相浩表示，需要扩大对考试费用和教育费用的支持，特别是要减轻低收入家庭年轻人的经济压力。

本文由生成式人工智能协助发布，并由《韩国时报》编辑。