The industrial technology workforce reached 1.74 million, rising for a fourth straight year. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said on Tuesday the total stood at 1,735,669 at end-2024, up 18,823 from a year earlier, based on a survey of 21,327 workplaces nationwide with 10 or more employees.

Industrial technology workers are those with a high school diploma or higher who work in research and development, technical roles, management of production and information and communications tasks, or as corporate executives. After a decline in 2020, the total has increased for four consecutive years since 2021.

Workers in 12 flagship industries totaled 1,156,025, accounting for 66.6 percent of the overall figure. That was up 13,543 from a year earlier. The semiconductor industry rose 4.3 percent and the biohealth industry rose 4.0 percent, keeping faster growth than other flagship industries. Semiconductors, biohealth, software and IT business have risen steadily over the past five years.

The shipbuilding industry shifted to growth for a second consecutive year. Headcount in 2024 was 59,213, up 1.2 percent from a year earlier. It broke an eight-year run of declines. Only the display, textile and chemical industries fell from a year earlier. The textile industry has continued to decline over the past five years.

The survey showed the concentration in the capital region strengthened. The capital region's share of industrial technology workers rose to 50.34 percent in 2024 from 50.29 percent in 2023. With the share exceeding half of the nationwide total since 2023, it rose 0.64 percentage points over four years from 49.7 percent in 2020.

The number of technology worker shortages was 39,834, up 1.6 percent from a year earlier. The shortage refers to additional workers needed beyond current staffing for normal business operations and running production facilities. Software lacked 6,561 workers, electronics 5,639, chemicals 4,620 and machinery 4,292.

Both job openings and hiring were higher outside the capital region. Openings for experienced workers were 49.9 percent in the capital region and 50.1 percent outside it. Openings for new recruits were 42.2 percent in the capital region and 57.8 percent outside it. Hiring of experienced workers was 49.7 percent in the capital region and 50.3 percent outside it, and hiring of new recruits was 41.4 percent in the capital region and 58.6 percent outside it. Departures fell 0.7 percent from a year earlier.