South Korea's AI boom drives demand for semiconductor trade schools

South Korea’s semiconductor exports reached $173bn last year and could double in 2026, driven by surging global demand for artificial intelligence. Samsung and SK Hynix now make up about half of the country’s benchmark stock index, offering annual bonuses averaging $500,000. A growing network of specialised trade schools, including Meister schools, is training students directly for chip factory jobs, with graduate employment rates reaching 96 percent. Enquiries have surged, reflecting shifting career ambitions amid a projected decade-long labour shortage in the sector. Al Jazeera’s Jack Barton reports from Eumseong County, South Korea. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #SouthKorea #Semiconductors #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ChipIndustry #Samsung #SKHynix #AIJobs #SemiconductorJobs #TechJobs #KoreaTech #MemoryChips #AIChip #ChipShortage #FutureOfWork