Suwon's Efforts for Career-Interrupted Women Show Promise

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City's support for career-interrupted women, commonly known as "경단녀" (gyeongdannyeo), is showing results.

The city's customized job program for career-interrupted women is overseen by the city and implemented by the Paldal Women's New Start Center and Yeongdeungpo Women's New Start Center. Employment counselors, startup managers, and vocational counselors at the centers identify the aptitudes and desired occupations of career-interrupted women to introduce suitable positions.

For career-interrupted women who have lost employment motivation or lack confidence due to prolonged career breaks, the "group counseling program" helps boost their self-confidence. Women who have not yet established a career path can participate in the "basic course" (5 days), while women with an established career path can participate in the "advanced course."

Vocational training courses for professional positions are also offered. The Paldal New Start Center operates four courses including "beauty coordinator" and "convergence education instructor," while the Yeongdeungpo New Start Center operates six vocational training courses including "employment manager" and "dementia prevention trainer."

There is also a post-employment management program for job seekers who participated in New Start Center education courses and women who found employment through the centers. Support includes employment and startup support (operating employment and startup clubs), career interruption prevention and career development (coaching), and career exploration programs for children of working mothers.

Job-seeking women who do not secure employment immediately after completing vocational training courses can participate in employment and startup clubs where they can develop their job skills. Various clubs are available, including beauty and bakery startup clubs.

There is also "women internship support" to help career-interrupted women adapt well to the workplace after employment. The city provides "intern recruitment support funds" to companies hiring women to maintain employment.

Last year, the two centers registered 11,027 job openings and 11,916 job seekers, with 2,909 people finding employment. A total of 216 people participated in vocational training courses, with 208 completing the program. Of these, 139 found employment.

Suwon City's customized job program for career-interrupted women is showing results in "increased female employment rate." According to the results of the "Regional Employment Survey for the First Half of 2019" conducted by Statistics Korea, Suwon's female employment rate in 2019 was 49.7%, a 2.9% increase from the first half of 2018.