● To address youth outmigration and improve local settlement conditions in Jeonbuk, 500 individuals aged 18–39 were surveyed to assess employment experiences, job quality perceptions, and policy needs.

● (Employment Conditions) Young people in Jeonbuk earn an average monthly wage of KRW 2.938 million while working an average of 42.3 hours per week, compared with a desired wage of KRW 3.692 million, indicating a gap of approximately KRW 0.75 million. 

● (Firm Size) Over one quarter (26.5%) of respondents are employed in or prefer working in small- and medium-sized enterprises with 30–99 employees, while only 6.6% work in large firms with 500 or more employees. These statistics reflect a structurally limited range of job opportunities in the region.

● (Flexible Work Arrangements) The adoption rate of flexible work arrangements remains low at 27.0%. Nevertheless, young people show a strong preference for such options, including flexible hours (30.6%) and staggered hours (23.8%), to improve their work–life balance

● (Job Satisfaction and Turnover) Overall job satisfaction is slightly above average (3.28), but indicators such as wages (3.05), skills development (3.05), and career advancement (3.11) remain below the average. Meanwhile, 27.7% of youth are potentially mobile, as indicated by their intentions to change jobs within one year.

● (Settlement Conditions) Youth identify regional development potential (55.4%) and livelihood opportunities (52.8%) as key conditions for remaining in Jeonbuk, suggesting that they place greater importance on the region’s future growth prospects than mere job availability

● (Policy Demand) Job seekers prioritize support for strengthening qualifications, including credential acquisition (43.1%), whereas employees emphasize access to quality job information (54.7%) and self-development opportunities (37.2%).  

● (Housing Policy) Demand is particularly high for measures such as lump-sum housing loan programs (64.4%) and strengthened tenant deposit protection (42.3%) to facilitate initial asset formation. 

● (Policy Recommendations) The diverse value orientations of youth in Jeonbuk necessitate the development of tailored support plans and multidimensional policy measures across key priorities, including income and livelihood stability, work–life balance, and personal and career development.

​a​This brief summarizes the survey findings from the Jeonbuk Institute’s policy research project, “A Study on Enhancing the Quality of Youth Employment in Jeonbuk (25JU26).”

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