Do Public Employment Programs in Korea Facilitate Occupational Matching for Older Adults?

As South Korea undergoes rapid demographic aging, it also faces the highest poverty rate among older adults across OECD nations. In response, a growing number of older adults remain in the workforce after retirement. However, they are frequently concentrated in precarious, low-paying positions that do not utilize their previous skills or experience. In light of this, recent policy initiatives have aimed to better connect post-retirement employment with individuals’ former careers. This study assesses whether public employment programs facilitate reemployment in occupations aligned with older workers’ lifelong professional paths. Drawing on the 2024 Economically Active Population Survey (N = 3,123), logistic regression analyses yield three key findings. First, individuals re-employed through public programs are significantly less likely to secure career-related positions compared to those in the private sector. Second, gender differences remain pronounced, with men less likely than women to reenter similar occupations. Third, job characteristics such as professional status, short tenure, and regular employment increase the likelihood of occupational continuity. Although policies promote the idea of skill matching, entrenched labor market structures and historical institutional patterns often impede realization. The persistent prevalence of low-skilled roles in the public sector reflects a policy legacy prioritizing short-term poverty relief over sustainable, skills-based employment for the older adults.