South Korea Expands Shipyard Workforce Amid Labor Shortages

South Korea is widening its search for workers to fill growing labour shortages in its booming shipbuilding sector, bringing in employees from Uzbekistan to meet demand.

This summer, 280 workers from landlocked Uzbekistan will begin working in various shipyards around Ulsan, a major industrial hub. They will earn South Korea’s minimum wage of 10,030 won ($7.60) per hour.

Government-Led Recruitment Initiative

While foreign labour has previously played a role in South Korea’s shipbuilding industry, this marks the first time that a local government is directly involved in recruitment efforts. Ulsan is actively supporting the initiative by establishing shipbuilding training centres in Uzbekistan to prepare workers before their arrival.

The labour ministry and Ulsan city officials plan to assess the pilot program before deciding on potential expansion.

Labour Shortages Drive Overseas Recruitment

South Korea’s shipbuilding sector has faced significant manpower shortages in recent years, made worse by a surge in new contracts. In response, the national government has taken steps to ease visa restrictions for skilled workers and establish training and recruitment partnerships with various Asian nations.

In addition to Uzbekistan, South Korea has sought workers from landlocked Nepal in recent years, with up to 3,000 Nepali workers recruited to support the industry. Meanwhile, thousands of employees continue to arrive from Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand.

As demand for skilled labour continues to rise, South Korea is exploring further international partnerships to sustain its shipbuilding dominance.