SK hynix Inc., a leading global memory chip manufacturer, significantly expanded its workforce last year, adding over 2,000 new positions. This substantial hiring spree comes amid an unprecedented global surge in demand for memory chips, primarily fueled by the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) boom, according to industry reports on Sunday.
This impressive growth in employment at SK hynix is particularly noteworthy given the overall sluggishness observed across South Korea’s broader job market during the same period.
Industry sources reveal that SK hynix’s employee count reached 34,549 by the end of 2025, marking a robust increase of 2,159 personnel compared to the previous year.
In contrast, Samsung Electronics Co.’s device solutions division, which encompasses its extensive chip manufacturing operations, saw a slight reduction in its workforce. Its employee numbers stood at 78,064, down from 78,699, over the identical timeframe.
Despite the minor adjustment at Samsung, the combined chip-related workforce of these two South Korean tech giants – key players in the global semiconductor industry – collectively grew to 112,613 employees by the close of last year, representing a net increase of 1,554 individuals from the year prior.
This overall expansion in semiconductor industry employment is directly attributable to the exploding demand for advanced AI infrastructure. Experts within the sector widely anticipate this trend of job growth at major chipmakers to continue as AI technology progresses.
However, industry observers have voiced concerns regarding an escalating “K-shaped” disparity within the South Korean job market. This phenomenon describes a scenario where only a select few industries, such as semiconductors, are experiencing robust employment expansion, while many other sectors face stagnation or decline.
Illustrating this widening gap, South Korea’s job market experienced a loss of 40,000 positions in May compared to the previous year. This marked the first decline in 17 months, with the prolonged geopolitical tensions in the Middle East significantly impacting the nation’s manufacturing sector.
“Currently, most South Korean industries are navigating a challenging slump, with notable exceptions being a few resilient sectors, particularly semiconductors,” stated Yang Jun-sok, a distinguished professor of economics at the Catholic University of Korea, underscoring the uneven economic landscape.
