Food Service Shows Most Promise in Job Growth

The most promising sector in the domestic service industry for jobs over the next 10 years is food service, a survey released yesterday said.

The Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training conducted a survey of 1,082 career experts. The study was the first to feature the next decade’s prospects for all service jobs.

Jobs in the service sector accounted for 57.6 percent of all jobs in industry in 2007.

○ Expected boom in food service

Among the 10 occupational groups that fall under the service industry according to the Korean Employment Classification of Occupation, the most promising sectors are law, law enforcement and correctional facilities.

The food service industry is ranked fifth now, but will take the top spot in 10 years, the survey said.

“With an expected increase in national income, the culture of families dining out will significantly grow, making food service jobs more popular and promising,” said senior researcher Jeong Yoon-gyeong.

Jobs in law, law enforcement and correctional facilities ranked second in prospects to food service, followed by those in education and natural and social sciences; health and medicine; and culture, arts and design.

The integrated job prospect index is based on seven criteria: compensation, employment rate, job security, growth potential, working conditions, professional expertise and gender equality.

○ Promising vs. less promising jobs

In addition to the service industry, the institute also studied the outlook for jobs in all the other sectors, including manufacturing.

The jobs of advertising or public relations professional, consultant, curator and culture preservation expert have not-so-good prospects now, but will likely grow in popularity.

The occupations of customer service representative, caregiver, security guard and building supervisor will also be in higher demand by the next decade.

In contrast, prospects are bleak for in-demand jobs such as high-ranking government positions, executives at public organizations, financial clerks, primary and secondary school teachers and overseas sales representatives.

“On the whole, job prospects mirror Korea’s economic order,” says Han Sang-geun, the head of the institute’s Career Information Center. “The outlook for occupations in industries showing growth potential is bright, whereas the prospects for those in sectors that flourished in the 1970s and 80s are clearly growing more uncertain.”

Jobs in new service areas will enjoy rather higher popularity than specialized occupations in traditional areas, he added, and the prospects for jobs whose social contributions have been undervalued are bright as well.

The report also noted unique changes in vocations.

The job of elementary school teacher was cited for having the best working conditions, but auto-assembly and inspection worker will likely take over in 10 years. Talent agents were said to have the worst working conditions, but that dubious honor will go to film directors and producers in 10 years.

The most promising jobs for women now and in the next 10 years were pharmacist and doctor of Oriental medicine, respectively, and those for the elderly were doctor of Oriental medicine both now and in 10 years.

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