Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jzrossef]

Just wondering if anyone thought about this issue. I've been hearing about some serious demographic issues in some parts of the world, where the aging population is increasing and too few children to support the elders and possibly struggle running the economy. Japan was the biggest concern so far, but I feel that Koreans may be in the similar boat.

I'm trying to imagine as to how this factor might have any impact to teaching business sector in Korea. Less Korean children and young adults, and I'm not sure immigrating families from neighboring Asian nations (Mostly poor in manual labors I'd imagine) are willing to pay huge money like Koreans do for education. I'm not too concerned if it will take more than a generation, but if it does... well, what do you think? (Don't really care if this issue happens after I retire... shrug)

I'm trying to predict, as hard and futile as it might be, what the market would be like during my lifetime. There will be ups and downs, for sure.... but I'm trying to have a big picture here.

Something we all might want to think about a little.

[earthquakez]

Many English teachers who have been doing this for some time are aware of the demographics of both Japan and Korea.

Japan is greying (or 'silvering'!) as they say very fast. However, the effects are more likely to be felt in your income and city tax going up to pay for the big strain the elderly are putting on the health system and other services. A couple of years ago there was a big hike in tax for the Japanese and foreigners working there.

The idea was to give more funds for the different prefectures (provinces) and the individual's income tax was supposed to go down as city tax went up. But many foreigners are reporting that they are paying the same income tax more or less and a big hike in city tax. But as for the problems of less teaching jobs because of less kids, it's obvious you haven't taught in Japan.

You've got so much more visa freedom there. You can do as many English teaching jobs as you like after you've initially been sponsored by an employer - that means you're not tied to your employer and can quit and get another job on the same visa. Most foreigners stick with the same employer who sponsored them in their first year. The visa initially given is one year. Then foreigners are often given 3 year visas when they go to Immigration to renew.

You don't get tied down to these awful kids' only jobs unless you're not a good teacher. There are business teaching opportunities, other opportunities like language schools that teach only adults and not for the horrible 6am, 7am starts that are normal for Korean adult teaching jobs. Most working adults in Japan study at night, very few study early in the morning and it's likely to be 8am on a Saturday morning.

Korea limits what you can do as an English teacher on an E-2 visa, it's a straightjacket compared to what you can do in Japan.

In Korea yes - declining kids will mean declining jobs because so many jobs are kids' jobs and there is no visa flexibility for E-2 ers. Adult jobs take place at horrible times and are exhausting. The few genuinely good jobs that pay reasonable salaries and are geared towards experienced teachers are dominated by foreigners married to Koreans.

Japan is seeing the Korean problem of a flooded market. However, experienced teachers with life experience are still favoured over North Americans who look good in a photo and graduated recently. There are far less jobs that openly proclaim 'No experience necessary!' unlike in Korea. The problem is living in Japan on a tourist visa while looking for work. The expenses can get out of control. Plus the number of part time jobs in Japan have increased.

But at least you can put a number of them together to make a decent salary in total and it's legal.

[lifeinkorea]

I don't see this negatively affecting native English speakers unless they are looking for non-English teaching jobs where there is competition on a different level.

As long as the demand for English is as strong (or weak, depending on how you view it), Things will be tweaked.

[jzrossef]

[interestedinhanguk]