- Recognized for expanding flexible work in core industries... Leading the way in creating youth-friendly job environments -

Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced it won the top prize in the Outstanding Project category at the ‘2025 National Local Government Job Awards Ceremony’ held on September 8.
The ‘Outstanding Project Category’ award, which Incheon received, recognizes local governments' regional job creation initiatives implemented throughout 2024, selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of creativity and employment generation effects.
Incheon secured the top honor for its successful implementation of the “Project to Introduce and Expand Flexible Work Practices in Root Industries.” This initiative aimed to improve the rigid corporate culture prevalent across root industries.
※ Root Industries: Industries producing parts or finished products using foundational manufacturing process technologies such as casting, molding, forming, welding, surface treatment, and heat treatment. These are core sectors supporting the competitiveness of Korea's key industries like automotive, shipbuilding, and IT.
As of 2023, Incheon has 30,869 manufacturing businesses employing 246,065 workers. Among these, root industries comprise 5,861 businesses (18.9%) and 63,594 workers (25.8%).
While the root industries form a major industrial cluster within manufacturing, the phenomenon of young people avoiding manufacturing is intensifying. Consequently, the number of young workers aged 30 and under is decreasing annually, while the proportion of older workers aged 50 and above is increasing. This is leading to a shortage of skilled labor and a weakening of industrial competitiveness.
According to the Korea Labor Institute's “2024 Youth Employment Trends Survey,” young people prioritize wages, benefits, and work-life balance when choosing a job. They particularly view special leave (38.5%), flexible work arrangements (35.4%), and remote work (31.1%) as essential welfare systems.
In response, Incheon City introduced short-hour work systems, flexible work arrangements, selective working hour systems, and reduced working hours for childcare and pregnant workers as the first step toward addressing the youth labor shortage in its root industries.
As a result, from 2023 to 2024, 79 workers (37 youth and 42 middle-aged/older workers) from 20 companies participated in flexible work arrangements. Among them, 67 continued working without changing jobs. This is evaluated as contributing not only to youth retention but also to improved job stability across various age groups.
Kim Jin-tae, Director of the City's Economic and Industrial Headquarters, stated stated, “Moving forward, Incheon City will focus on actively supporting root industries and resolving structural issues in industrial sites to create an environment where work and life are balanced, and both companies and workers can operate stably.” He added, “A city attracts young people when it offers good jobs. Therefore, we will further solidify Incheon as a second economic hub where everyone thrives by improving job quality and creating new jobs in future industries.”
Meanwhile, Incheon City surpassed 100 trillion won in Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) for the first time at the end of 2022. It recorded a provisional economic growth rate of 6.1% in 2024, ranking first nationwide and achieving the top spot in real economic growth for three consecutive years. Furthermore, it has ranked first nationwide in population growth rate for two consecutive years, with the economically active population and employment rate steadily increasing, ensuring a stable labor supply.