Who did it?
The Ministry of Employment and Labor in conjunction with employment agencies in the private and not-for-profit sector.
Where are we drawing the evidence from?
Information sourced from:
What kind of support was it?
A comprehensive intervention tailored to individual needs including counselling, training, job placement support and financial incentives. Support lasts up to one year.
Where did it run?
Nationally in South Korea
When did it run?
From 2009 – possibly ongoing
Who did it serve?
A range of vulnerable groups including middle-aged and older jobseekers
What were its key features?
A customised, comprehensive offer in 3 stages:
- Stage 1: counselling, motivation boosting, pathway setting (3 – 4 weeks)
- intensive counselling (vocational psychological test and group counselling)
- creation of an individual action plan
- financial allowance for participation
- Stage 2: vocational skills development (maximum 8 months)
- targeted training specific to individual needs (vocational training or business start-up training). Financial incentives paid.
- link to internships for older workers
- link to business start-up training programmes
- Stage 3: job placement (3 months)
- intensive job placement
- recruitment information, job-search skills and support for interviews
- financial incentive - employment success allowance available for low-income families
What were its outcomes?
Evaluation (2018) showed that:
- ESPP was effective in bringing programme participants (including middle-aged and older jobseekers) into employment
- It would be valuable to put more emphasis on securing better quality and more sustainable employment
- Participation should be expanded further to include a larger share of older jobseekers who benefit from the more individualised support
