Food-to-entertainment conglomerate pledges 13,000 new jobs, ramps up regional investment over three years
CJ Group, a leading food-to-entertainment conglomerate, announced Wednesday a significant commitment to job creation and regional economic development in Korea. The company plans to hire 13,000 new employees and invest 4.2 trillion won ($2.9 billion) domestically over the next three years.
This decision, driven by corporate social responsibility, reflects the vision of CJ Group Chair Lee Jay-hyun, who believes corporations should provide opportunities for young people to achieve their aspirations. CJ’s diverse businesses are well-positioned to create a substantial number of jobs, particularly for liberal arts graduates, often overlooked in a job market favoring science and engineering degrees.
Approximately 71 percent of CJ’s recent hires have been 34 years of age or younger, demonstrating the group’s ongoing dedication to providing employment opportunities for the younger generation. This trend has been consistent over the past three years, and CJ aims to increase its recruitment by 20 percent this year.
CJ highlighted the attractiveness of its businesses, such as CJ Olive Young and CJ ENM, to young job seekers. CJ Olive Young, for example, added nearly 1,000 new employees last year, fueled by the booming Korean beauty sector.
Based on data from the National Pension Service (NPS), CJ Olive Young recorded the largest increase in NPS subscribers among Korea’s top 500 companies, highlighting its job creation success.
Unlike many major Korean companies that shifted to rolling recruitment in response to COVID-19’s economic uncertainty, CJ has maintained its traditional entry-level hiring process.
In addition to new hires, CJ plans to increase its investment in regional production and logistics hubs by 45 percent, reaching 1.5 trillion won in 2025. The company will prioritize investments outside the Greater Seoul area (Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province) to stimulate and revitalize regional economies.
CJ has a proven track record of contributing to regional employment through large-scale infrastructure projects. The CJ Blossom Campus in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, a 1 trillion won food manufacturing facility, is a prime example. CJ Logistics also operates major logistics hubs in Daejeon, Okcheon, and Cheongwon. The company intends to accelerate regional investment by expanding processed food production facilities, investing in new logistics hubs, and opening new stores in regions beyond the Seoul metropolitan area.
“Beyond simply hiring, we aim to cultivate talent that approaches their work with enthusiasm, pride, and a desire to contribute to global competitiveness in areas such as K-content, K-food, and K-beauty. We are committed to fostering a corporate culture that provides endless opportunities for growth and innovation,” stated a CJ Group official.
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